Chapters Dusk and Rune: The Children of the Night
Dusk, Rune, and Calligraphy trotted along the stone streets, looking around, they saw other ponies just as cloaked as they were.
"So why the cloaks?" Rune asked.
"Some of the Children are uncomfortable revealing themselves until they are inside the castle." Calligraphy answered. "We are everywhere so some ponies may know each other in the other world."
"I do have a question." Dusk asked.
"Yes?" Calligraphy asked.
"What is that at the top of the tower." Dusk pointed to a strange object at the top of the castle's highest tower."
"That is the home of the Grand Owl." Calligraphy answered. "He is our guardian, our protector. But he hasn't made an appearance in over twenty years."
"Maybe somepony should check on him." Rune suggested, more interesting in seeing this Grand Owl.
"We cannot. It is sacrilegious to be within the Owl's presence before the Time." Calligraphy snapped.
"The Time?" Dusk and Rune asked at once.
"It is the Time when the Children no longer hide in the shadows and reveal ourselves to the world." Calligraphy said.
"Why wait?" Rune asked.
"Because the Oracle has not deemed it is time." Calligraphy answered. "I can't explain everything now, come on."
Rune couldn't continue his questions as he made his way with the rest into the castle. Looking around, Dusk and Rune noticed something else. Anypony who looked at Calligraphy gave a small bow of respect. What could this mean? The interior of the castle was lined with a strange stone that was dark in color. Suits of armor lined the halls, pillars in the shapes of alicorns, tapestries and banners were covered with the Children's insignia with the words "Praise the Goddess, our Mother." along them.
"What's that sound?" Rune asked, hearing what might be loud voiced at the end of the hall.
"It seems he's already starting trouble." Calligraphy sighed, picking up the pace. "Make sure to keep your hoods on."
The three ponies walked into the room, there was a massive stone in the shape of the Moon illuminating the room. There were seats and benches surrounding the room where a countless amount of hooded ponies sat. In the center of the room, a unicorn stallion with a dark blue, almost black coat. His mane was long and wavy, almost like a mane and were two colors; a dark orange with black highlights running along it. The rest of his body was covered by his cloak. Even his voice sounded like he felt superior. This stallion was debating with a panel consisting of almost a dozen other ponies, some young, some old. They were the only ones with their hoods off.
"Staying as we are is folly!" The unicorn protested. "How many centuries must we wait for the Time?"
"Councilor Bru." One of the older ponies spoke out. "We have survived these near thousand years is because we have remained hidden."
"That's right!" A younger pony added. "We cannot reveal ourselves until the Time is called. We would be slaughtered by the Sun Tyrant otherwise."
"Not unless we strike first." Bru suggested.
"Declare war? On the Sun Tyrant?!" Another old pony shuttered.
"The Children would be killed. We would become extinct." A fourth Councillor said. "We must stay with what Councillor Calligraphy suggested. We remain hidden in plain sight, until the Time."
"Calligraphy's plan would have us rot!" Bru shouted, but then looked over and saw Calligraphy, Dusk, and Rune walk in. "Councillor Calligraphy, we were just talking about you."
"Interesting." Calligraphy calmly responded. "You're usually shouting about me."
There was a small laughter amongst the other ponies. Bru didn't respond to that comment, he remained composed and calm. But this changed when he saw Dusk and Rune.
"Who are these?!" Bru demanded. "I've heard you brought two ponies with you. Explain yourself!"
"May I present Dawn Rune." Calligraphy gestured Rune to step forward. "Arch-Mage to the Goddess."
There were whispers amongst the cloaked Children. Some questioning whether Calligraphy was telling the truth.
"This is quite humorous Calligraphy." Bru laughed. "There hasn't been an Arch-Mage for nearly a thousand years, and you say this child is one."
"It's true." Rune stepped forward, making it up as he went along. "I have been blessed by the Goddess and bestowed the title of Arch-Mage."
Bru walked right up to Rune, staring him down, his height was easily taller than Rune. Rune could see his piercing yellow eyes almost mentally stabbing him. "This isn't a game boy! You are not of the Children and you have no right to be here."
"He speaks the truth!" A very familiar voice called out from besides the other Councillors.
Jumping down from the bench was another cloaked pony but Dusk and Rune almost fell over in surprise when they saw his face.
"Councillor Nightwing?!" Bru asked, unaware that Nightwing knew Dusk and Rune. "You've never spoken in debate. What changed your mind."
"You see that pony?" Nightwing pointed at Rune. "He speaks the truth. The Goddess has bestowed this pony the title of Arch-Mage." He then pointed to Dusk. "And the other has been blessed my the Goddess, being allowed to become the Arch-Mage's acolyte."
"A-a-acolyte?!" Dusk wanted to shout but knew that was a bad idea.
"You expect us to believe this?" Bru spoke loudly at Nightwing.
"Councillor Nightwing and Councillor Calligraphy have proven themselves loyal to the Children." A Councillor spoke up. "What reason do they have to lie now?"
"And Councillor Nightwing serves as guard captain to the Goddess." Another declared. "He would know if the Goddess has declared such a thing."
"Fine." Bru reluctantly accepted, turning back towards Dusk and Rune. "The Council has declared you Arch-Mage and Acolyte to the Goddess." He then turned back to the Council. "But there is the manner at hand."
"What about the Oracle?" Rune asked, before thinking. "What does the Oracle has to say about this?"
There was the deadest silence in the room. Even Bru's serious face contorted in shock. Rune looked back at Calligraphy who was just as shocked. He must of said something really important or really stupid.
"Very well." Bru composed himself, looking at the Council. "Bring the Oracle!"
There was silence again, everypony got on their hooves in a bow, their heads placed upon the stone ground. The Councillors bowed but not as deeply as the rest. Everypony was bowing in the same direction; towards the large door on the other side of the room. Dusk and Rune were the only ones who weren't bowing.
"Get down you two." Calligraphy ordered Dusk and Rune.
Dusk knelt quickly as to not accidentally offend. Rune slowly kneeled down but not as severe as the rest. He watched as the large doors slowly opened, a cold breezed flushed through the room. He saw a large silver platform with a large blue cushion upon it. This platform was being carried by four large black, Earth stallions. At the top of the platform, resting upon the cushion as the Oracle. At first glance, it looked like a foal, possibly a filly. But there was something very familiar about this Oracle.
"Holy-" Rune said to himself when he saw the Oracle.
"There's no way-" Dusk said as well, looking up.
As the Councillors rose, but the remaining ponies stayed in a bowing position, the older and possibly senior of the Councillors spoke up.
"Praise the Oracle!" The Councillor declared loudly. "Praise Midnight!"
The filly that sat upon the large cushion was a younger version of the Rune's alleged daughter Midnight. Except for her being completely younger than the one that appeared before, she had no cutie mark, nor a murderous look in her eyes. Dusk was shocked, after remembering what Midnight did to him and his friends, he didn't know what to think. Rune was hit just as hard, if not harder. He knew the Midnight thing was a fake, she wasn't real. A lie created by himself, Twilight, and Celestia; but there she was.
"Oracle?" Bru bowed towards Midnight again. "We seek your aid in a dire matter."
"You may speak." Midnight answered.
"The time has come for the Children to reveal themselves." Bru informed. "But most say we should remain in hiding."
"And your plan would have us be killed!" Calligraphy stepped forward, then bowed towards Midnight. "Oracle, Councillor's Bru's plan means engaging in war against Canterlot, if not all of Equestria."
"Maybe there's another way?" Rune spoke up, getting up and approaching Midnight, but didn't bow, to the shock of the crowd.
"You dare speak to the Oracle so casually?!" Bru shouted in anger and disgust.
"Maybe there's another way." Rune suggested, he was close enough to the platform, he could touch it. "What if the Children reveal themselves and become allies with Canterlot, not enemies?"
"Allies? With the Sun Tyrant?!" Bru stood up. "I will not tolerate more of this blasphemy! You are not of the Children, you do not know how long we have suffered!" He then looked at Calligraphy. "And you Calligraphy have broken our creed and brought outsiders who speak of our ruin."
"Councillor Bru." Midnight spoke up. "You are a patriot of the Children and I know your heart is in the right place. But this outsider's heart is equally in the right place. But both your plans are opposite. How can we establish a peaceful agreement?"
"Traditionally." Bru bowed towards Midnight, then looked at Rune. "I challenge this outsider to the sacred trial of the Moon."
There was a massive gasp of shock amongst the Children. Only Dusk and Rune were not following.
"Outsider, tomorrow at the rising of the Moon, we shall do battle." Bru flared his horn a dirty white color. "It will be you or I the Children follow boy. And I shall prevail."
"Councillor Bru!" Calligraphy shouted. "You cannot challenge Rune to the Trial, he is too young. I brought him here, the responsibility is mine to bear."
"The challenge has been given to the Outsider." An older looking Councillor answered. "Will you accept this challenge?"
"I will." Rune said almost immediately.
"Then the challenge shall be set to come in one days time." A Councillor swung a massive gavel down. "Dismissed!"
________________________________________________________________________________________________
It wasn't even two seconds after Dusk and Rune were brought to Calligraphy's office when she back hoofed Rune, sending him flying across the room.
"ARE YOU COMPLETELY INSANE!!!??" Calligraphy shouted. "Speaking like that so openly, and then to accept Bru's challenge?!!!"
"Seriously Rune!" Dusk joined in, but used his hooves to hold back Calligraphy as she was proceeding to kick Rune. "Do you always have to talk before thinking. Do you even have a brain in that head?!"
There was then a knock on the door.
"Come in." Calligraphy, now calmed down.
The door opened and Nightwing walked in.
"Any luck." Calligraphy asked.
"No." Nightwing shook his head. "There's no way to appeal to the Council. There are too many in favor of the Trial. And changing Bru's mind is impossible."
"I wanted to ask." Rune asked, sitting up, some blood and bruises from Calligraphy's beating on his face. "Who is that Bru pony and more importantly, why is Midnight here?"
"How do you know of Midnight?!" Nightwing asked. "She's never left the kingdom, how would you of known?"
"Well you see...." Rune then explained how he, Twilight, and Celestia created a massive illusion in an attempt to get Luna's inner Nightmare out of her. This explanation pissed off both Nightwing and Dusk.
"You mean I suffered all that and saw my friends hurt over a lie!?" Dusk grabbed Rune in anger. "Why would you lie to me like this?! Aren't we friends?!"
"Enough." Nightwing had to stay calm as he put his hoof on Dusk's shoulder. "I'm upset too, everypony in Canterlot was worried over the safety of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. But as Rune said, it was Celestia's idea and we have to trust her. I've worked in the guard long enough that even if the Princesses may do something behind our backs, they are only trying to do what is best for Equestria."
"I know, but I wish they told me about it." Dusk was still upset but he had to save his anger for another time.
"Now about Bru?" Rune asked. "What's his story?"
"His full name is Bru Tality." Calligraphy answered. "He is one of the thirteen Councillors along with myself and Nightwing. And he is known for his patriotism for the Children and his cruelty and hatred towards anypony else."
"So why does he want to engage in war?" Dusk asked. "And who's this Sun Tyrant?"
"I'm assuming this Sun Tyrant everypony was talking about is Princess Celestia." Rune guessed.
"Yes." Calligraphy answered. "It is tradition to never say her name publicly or to show her respects. There are less than a few Children who would say her name. Myself and Nightwing included."
"Why is that?" Rune and Dusk asked.
"Well you see.." Calligraphy was about to explain when there was another knock on the door. "Come in."
Much to the surprise of Dusk and Rune, Derpy Hooves walked into the room.
"Derpy?!" Dusk and Rune said in surprise. "You're one of the Children?!"
"Yes." Derpy smiled. "A few of the Children are from Ponyville. But that's not why I'm here. I have a message."
"So you're a mail pony even among the Children?" Rune joked.
"Yep." Derpy nodded and smiled. "But my message is, the Oracle has asked for both yours and Dusk's presence in her chambers. Immediately."
"Seriously?!" Nightwing said in surprise and confusion.
"This is a great opportunity." Calligraphy said. "Dusk can convince the Oracle not to allow this trial and Rune's life will be spared."
"Why can't I convince Midnight?" Rune asked.
"Because you have no respect for authority." Nightwing answered. "If you call her by her name so causally, your head will be on the floor. Dusk will do all the talking."
Derpy escorted Dusk and Rune to the chambers of the Oracle, located at the highest tower of the castle. The doors were easily the largest pair of doors either of the ponies have ever seen. It was made of a silver-like metal that couldn't be identified. Every constellation was present on this door in intricate detail.
"I'm guessing we go in." Rune joked.
"Yes." Derpy then backed away. "Only you two are allowed in."
Derpy then trotted off, leaving Dusk and Rune starring at the door.
"Well, let's see what happens." Rune said, slowly pushing on the door.
Despite its size, the door was light and easy to open. Opening the door, Dusk and Rune looked within and it was amazing. There was a completely transparent ceiling, where the fake Moon's light illuminates the room. Even the fake stars looked brighter. The room was very misty, like a light blanket of cool fog kissed Dusk and Rune's skin. Looking through the mist, both ponies saw how massive the room was; there were large stone monuments, each carved in the shape of giant ponies. In the center of the room was a large, almost pond sized pool of what looked like warm or hotter water. In the center of the pond was Midnight, sitting upon an island platform covered in massive cushions and bedding.
"Welcome." Midnight spoke aloud to Dusk and Rune. She then turned to her guards, roughly twenty or so heavily armed ponies. "You may leave."
The guards did not speak, they simply bowed and left the room. Leaving Midnight alone with Dusk and Rune.
"You may be wondering why I have called you here?" Midnight asked. "You may speak freely, we are alone."
"I do have a few questions." Rune asked, stepping forward, almost touching the water. "Who are you?"
"I am Midnight, tenth generation Oracle to the Moon Goddess, Princess Luna." Midnight answered. "Now I ask, who are you?"
"Dawn Rune, Arch-Mage to Princess Luna." Rune answered playing along. "Now who are the Children?"
"We are those who the Goddess saved from death." Midnight answered. "Why have you come?"
"Somepony tried to kill Princess Cel-" Dusk then stopped, not wanting to offend. "I mean the 'Sun Tyrant' and we want to know why."
"I have ordered no attempt on her life." Midnight answered.
"Maybe somepony went behind your back?" Rune asked.
"Possibly." Midnight answered. "But now, what do you hope to gain?"
"Gain?" Dusk didn't understand the question.
"I want to know more of the Children." Rune answered. "I want to hear everything."
Midnight couldn't help but let out a laugh, as if she has heard the funniest thing in her life.
"You have no other desires or goals?" Midnight asked. "You cam here, risking death or worse all for understanding?!"
"Pretty much." Rune shrugged.
Midnight couldn't help but let out another laugh, more like a giggle this time.
"Very well." Midnight grinned like a child given candy. "I will tell you everything, in exchange for a favor."
Dusk and Rune: The Children of the Night
"Favor?" Dusk and Rune asked.
"Yes." Midnight answered. "I will tell you our story, if you promise me."
"Promise what?" Rune asked.
"Promise me that you will take me with you." Midnight asked.
"What?" Dusk asked. "Why?"
"I want to see the world outside this castle." Midnight answered. "I have always lived in the Children's hidden kingdom. I want to see the outside world."
"Sure." Rune agreed. "I'll bring you with me."
"You promise?" Midnight's grey eyes sparkled as if being promised a new toy.
"Of course." Rune smiled. "Provided you answer our questions, starting with telling us everything about the Children of the Night."
"You really think this is a good idea?" Dusk whispered to Rune.
"I see no problem. It's like foalsitting." Rune whispered back and then looked at Midnight. "Do we have a deal?"
"Agreed." Midnight smiled, her horn lit a light black color, igniting several torches that lined the far back wall and eventually surrounded the entire room. "I will have to start from the beginning."
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After the meeting, Bru went to his own chambers and spent the last couple hours pacing back and forth.
"What is your plan Calligraphy?" Bru asked himself aloud. "And you Nightwing, you're only a Councillor because of your services. You've never spoken up at any meeting."
There was a knock on the door.
"Come in." Bru said, trying to relax enough to hold a conversation.
A yellow pegasi mare with a wavy pinkish purple mane walked in, accompanied by an older looking green earth stallion with no hair but a darker green beard. Both ponies were wearing Councillor cloaks.
"Comet, Greene." Bru greeted his fellow Councillors. "What brings you two here."
"We were wondering how you were." Comet said, her voice sounded as sweet as honey but you could almost hear a faint wiff of cruelty.
"I was certain that you were to win over the Council." Greene stated, stroking his beard.
"And I would of." Bru agreed. "But-"
"But it seems Calligraphy and Nightwing had a plan as well." Comet stated. "It seems we cannot continue our own plans."
"Nothing changes." Bru stated. "That foolish foal, that Dawn Rune agreed to the Trial."
"Oh yes." Greene nodded. "And I'm assuming you will be fair."
"He doesn't know the Trials." Comet said. "And the challenge is between you and him. So show him what a real Trial looks like."
"My dear Comet." Bru teased a bit. "You're not suggesting I kill this boy?"
"Oh no." Comet teased back. "Maybe a severe maiming or a few broken parts, draw out his suffering."
"And then we begin our plan." Bru stated.
"And should you lose?" Greene asked, trying to remain respectful.
"I never lose, especially not to a child." Bru. "Now leave me!"
Comet and Green bowed, then the three ponies placed their hooves upon their chest. "May the Goddess bless our actions...Amen."
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Back in Midnight's chambers, Dusk and Rune waited somewhat eagerly for Midnight to tell her story.
"Over a thousand years ago." Midnight began. "Equestria was ruled over by a dark figure. A creature made up of various animal parts. We called it, "The Beast." but then the two Princesses Celestia and Luna defeated The Beast, turning it to stone."
"I've heard that story." Rune nodded.
"The devastation left by The Beast was dire, all ponies were in a state of disharmony." Midnight's horn lit up and the surrounding walls that contained almost hieroglyphics of the events, came to life. "The eldest sister, Celestia, took power over the Sun and gave new light to the world. And the younger, Luna-"
"Raised the Moon and gave the ponies night." Dusk interrupted. "But then Princess Luna became jealous of Princess Celestia and later became Nightmare Moon."
"Yes." Midnight's tones became sorrowful. "But there is more to that. You see, there were some ponies who loved the Night and they worshiped Luna more so than Celestia. And Luna asked that she and Celestia rule two kingdoms as allies instead of a singular kingdom where she felt weaker."
"But Celestia refused?" Dusk asked, a little skeptical that Celestia would say no.
"She had her reasons." Midnight stated. The first being that a divided Equestria in its still fragile state would not of held. The second is the vast majority of those who worshiped Luna were orphans, homeless, and other poverty stricken ponies."
"Why did only those ponies worship Luna?" Rune asked.
"Those who had homes, or power gathered to Celestia for support or at least a way to stay in power." Midnight expressed her disgust in politics with that statement. "But those of us who gathered to Luna were given hope, we had nothing but the night sky and the stars and the Moon our mother provided."
"So what happened." Rune asked.
"It was on a clear night, when Luna came and gathered every pony who held her in honor." Midnight said with joy. "She took us, hundreds of us in number and brought us here. She built the castle with her magic and summoned the Great Owl to be our guardian."
"But then she left?" Dusk asked.
"Luna told us that her disappearance would cause more harm than good." Midnight answered. "So she left one pony in charge, giving that pony the powers of the Moon. Power equal to that of Luna herself. That pony became-"
"The Oracle." Rune answered as if he already knew the answer.
"Yes." Midnight smiled. "I am the tenth generation Oracle. Every Oracle must find a successor who is pure. The Oracle must never receive a cutie mark, as their duty is to the Goddess Luna only."
"But why?" Rune asked.
"Luna told the first Oracle that we are to wait until the day when we are to reveal ourselves." Midnight answered. "But over the centuries, there have been many different interpretations of when that time is."
"Yeah, that pony Bru wants to wage war." Dusk mentioned.
"Yes, but he is not as terrible as he seems." Midnight defended gently. "Bru has been a patriot and defender of the Children as far back as I can remember. But I feel he is going to lose his ways."
"So what is this Trial of the Moon I'll be taking?" Rune had to ask.
"It is one of the most sacred traditions of the Children." Midnight explained. "You have to show your devotion to the Children and the Goddess. Only those who have the best intention for the Children and have the most respect for the Children and the Goddess shall succeed. But you have to be careful."
"Why?" Rune had to ask.
"Those who fail may be banished from the Children or even perish." Midnight said gravely, she then grabbed Rune's arm like a child wanting something. "You cannot take this challenge, you promised to take me with you."
"You make it sound like I'll lose." Rune laughed.
"If you face Bru, you will." Midnight said, but then a spark went off in her head. "I know, I can help."
"What can you do?" Dusk asked.
"I can have the challenge change." Midnight suggested. "I cannot revoke the challenge but I can allow Rune to choose his challenge. This way he can live and keep his promise."
"You can do that?!" Dusk was amazed.
"Of course." Midnight spoke proudly but still a bit childish. "The Oracle's word is law, I can decide how things are to be."
"That's amazing." Dusk complimented. "We'll take the help."
Before Midnight could answer, there was a knock on the door. Opening the door was one of Midnight's guard ponies.
"Oracle." The pony bowed. "It is time to retire."
"So soon?!" Midnight's tone became one of pride and nobility. It appears she doesn't show her childish side to even her guards. "Very well. Bring our guests back to Councillor Calligraphy's chambers."
"Yes Oracle." The guard bowed again. "This way please."
After Dusk and Rune were escorted out, Midnight was alone.
"I pray the Goddess watch you." Midnight prayed, but then she felt a sharp pain strike the back of her head. Her mind became blank and her eyes looked like empty holes spewing darkness. "ThE tImE hAs CoMe!" Midnight was experiencing a vision, a vision of what future was about to come. Her voice sounded like nine other ponies were speaking at the same time with her. "ThE dArKnEsS sHaLl FlY.! tHe MoOn ShAlL qUaKe! TeArS sHaLl FaLl! aNd ThE cHiLdReN sHaLl SiNg!"
After Midnight's vision ended, she was in a cold sweat and her face was contorting in fear. The images she saw, she could never describe. Looking back at the large wall of the Children's history, Midnight's horn lit and a hidden section was illuminated. Carved images of the Moon falling upon the screaming images of ponies and towns.
"I fear the time is soon upon us." Midnight prayed again. "Goddess, watch over us."
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The next day, or night...it's hard to tell time in a place where it's always night, Rune was escorted by guards to a large arena-like structure. Looking up at the stands, Rune saw the Children, none of them were wearing robes. He could see Derpy waving playfully at him with a smile. Next to her, Rune saw Lotus Blossom and Aloe, the two earth ponies who run the Ponyville Spa. And he could've sworn he glanced and saw one pony who was still cloaked, but he then blinked and the pony was gone. Looking to the other side, Rune saw the Council, all of them wearing their cloaks but their hoods were off. He saw Calligraphy and Nightwing were sitting close and Dusk was besides them.
"Children of the Night." Greene announced loudly. "Before you all stands a pony who has been issued the Trial of the Moon." He then pointed towards Midnight, who had her own booth. "by the grace of the Oracle, this outsider is granted a favor. He is allowed to choose his challenge and his opponent. Now Dawn Rune. What shall you choose?"
Rune didn't give it much thought. "Single combat!" He announced.
Dusk let out a small sigh of relief. "Good." He told herself. "Rune will pick an easy opponent."
"Oh no." Calligraphy responded. "Rune will do something reckless and stupid."
"Let's hope he actually makes a smart choice for once." Nightwing added.
"Single combat is accepted." Greene announced. "And who shall be your opponent?"
"I challenge..." Rune didn't need to pause, he just wanted to add dramatic effect. "Councillor Bru Tality!"
The entire arena let out a shocked expression. Everypony, spectator, Councillor, even Midnight was shocked by Rune's reckless choice.
"He was handed every opportunity to succeed." Nightwing was grinding his teeth in anger. "And the bitch is committing suicide."
"Councillor Bru?" Greene looked over towards Bru. "Do you accept this challenge?"
Bru didn't need to say anything, he rose from his seat and jumped out of his chair, landing only a few feet from Rune. The entire crowd was in an almost uproar. Some were screaming the unfairness of the match, while others said that Rune deserved it. Leaving his cloak behind, Rune got a good look at his opponent. Bru was build almost like Big Mac back in Ponyville. He was toned with muscle. His cutie mark were two axes back to back. Despite his calm and stone cold expression, Bru could almost die laughing in his head. From the first moment he looked at Rune, there was this annoying sensation in the back of his head and it was annoying him.
"You made the last mistake of your life." Bru spoke out, making sure only Rune heard him.
"The match shall begin in one moment!" Greene announced. "Engage the Trial!"
The walls surrounding the interior of the arena around Rune and Bru began to glow a teal blue. Above the two ponies, a transparent, small dome slowly crystallized.
"What's going on?" Dusk asked Calligraphy.
"They're using that Trial." Calligraphy answered to the confused Dusk.
"What she means is.." Nightwing answered. "Inside the arena where those two are fighting, they environment is changing to make the fight a little more balanced. Both Rune and Bru are fighting under the same conditions."
"Conditions?" Dusk asked. "What conditions?"
"Low gravity." Calligraphy answered.
Back int he arena, Rune was already feeling the effects of the environment. His body felt lighter, as if he would float away.
"Let the Trial..." Greene announced. "BEGIN!"
Rune blinked, that's all he did...blinked. And that blink was enough time for Bru to jump at Rune and bring his rear leg and strike the side of Rune's head, sending Rune flying across the arena and smacked hard against the hard stone wall.
"Ohhhhh!!!!" Greene announced, doing the play by play. "It seems the Trial is already over. Councillor Bru has shown his devotion to the Children!"
"RUNE!!" Dusk, Calligraphy, and Nightwing shouted.
Midnight couldn't show her concern but in her head she was crying. 'Stupid! Stupid!' She thought to herself. 'You promised to take me with you!'
'And I'm gonna keep it.' Midnight heard Rune's voice in her head.
"Councillor Bru!!" Comet shouted, pointing at Rune.
Bru turned around and saw that that wasn't Rune who's body was against the wall. It was a Rune sized wooden puppet with the words "Psyche!" carved on the chest.
"A fake?!" Bru was rather upset, looking around for the real Rune.
"Phew." Calligraphy, Nightwing, Dusk, and even Midnight sighed in relief.
The wooden puppet arched its head down and disintegrated into saw dust and vanished. Bru turned his head and in the course of a blink of his eye, he felt the pressure of Rune's leg against his face. But there was a difference. Unlike Bru, Rune couldn't even get Bru to budge.
"This was your second mistake." Bru growled, grabbing Rune's legs and swinging him down, crashing to the ground.
Rune coughed up a bit of blood as his back struck the ground hard. Nothing was broken, but it did hurt a lot. Without skipping a beat, Bru raised his leg again and brought it down in the form of an axe kick on Rune's stomach. The arena itself let off a little shake. Rune was in a lot of pain but was able to bring himself to raise his own leg and kick Bru in his lower jaw. This, unlike his first kick, actually worked, Bru was shot up into the air and due to the lack of gravity, he stayed floating. The entire crowd was cheering and roaring in excitement over the match. The Council and even Midnight remained silent as they watched closely.
"Why did that kick work and the first one didn't?" Dusk asked.
"Because of the lack of gravity." Calligraphy answered. "Rune kicking at Bru while he was on the ground had no force to it, but when Rune's back was pressed against the ground, and Bru's wasn't, the kick had enough force to send him flying."
"But it won't last." Nightwing added. "Because of the low gravity, their physical attacks are greatly reduced. That's the only reason Rune survived that slam and axe kick."
"It seems this kid is decent." Greene complimented to the Council, trying to appear neutral.
"You forget Councillor Greene." Comet added, playing along but showing her support over Bru. "Bru has yet to show his magic."
Bru, who originally wanted to end the match quickly, but after getting kicked in the muzzle, despite that it didn't hurt, still pissed him off. Kinda floating and slowly descending back down, Bru ignited his horn which was a black color with a light teal hints along it. Aiming at Rune, Bru took a deep breath. Rune simply stood there and watched, waiting for Bru to fire.
"GET OUT OF THE WAY YOU MORON!!!!!" Nightwing shouted.
"Too late." Comet smiled.
Bru's horn didn't shoot a small blast, but didn't fire off a large blast. The shot of magic that erupted from his horn looked like an orb, roughly the size of a large ball. Rune didn't even have time to let out a sigh of relief before the orb exploded into hundreds of orbs, no bigger than marbles but shot out in every direction that was facing Rune. Raining down on him at an accelerated rate, Rune didn't have the time to dodge.
"It seems you were correct Councillor Comet." Greene complimented.
Comet was about to respond but looked at the arena and her eyes widened with shock. Everypony in the room was just shocked. Dusk, Calligraphy, and Nightwing looked at where Rune was. Dusk didn't see much of a problem, but Calligraphy and Nightwing were still as shocked as the rest. Before Bru, who finally touched the ground, was Rune but he was now in his "Nightmare" Form. Bru's expression was not shock but one of pure disgust.
"Sacrilegious!! Blasphemy!!" What is this insult!!!?" Bru shouted in anger and disgust.
'Afraid that you're going to lose?' Rune spoke in Bru's head.
'Mind reader?!' Bru immediately thought, for some reason he couldn't move.
"What's happening?" Dusk asked Calligraphy.
"You know Rune can read minds right?" Calligraphy asked.
"Yes." Dusk answered. "It's a spell right?"
"No." Calligraphy answered. "Well technically it is but it isn't. Every unicorn has their own abilities that are magic based and are unique to each unicorn. Rune wrote to me that you can retain the knowledge of any spell you learn and you can learn new spells faster than others. It isn't a spell that you cast but a magic that is always active." She then let out a sigh of discomfort. "Bru's, unfortunately, is that his magic can become amplified by his negative emotions."
"So that's why he never smiles?" Nightwing commented. "So why did he stop?"
"Rune is trying to get into Bru's mind." Calligraphy answered. "So now Bru is focusing solely on keeping Rune out of his head. "Normally Bru is a hard to read, and tight minded pony. But because he lost his composure and Rune being in that form, his magic is amplified enough to get into Bru's head."
'You..will..get...out..!!!' Bru was focusing his magic on pushing Rune out.
'Not...yet..' Rune knew it would be difficult to stay in Bru's head. He was amazed his idea even worked.
"It seems that boy is good." Greene commented to his fellow councilors.
"It's only some cheap trick, not true magic." Comet scoffed.
"Don't be so sure." Nightwing interrupted, pointing behind Bru. "That kid might be smarter than we thought."
It didn't take Comet much time to see what Nightwing was talking about.
"BRU, IT'S A FAKE!!!!" Comet shouted pointing behind Bru.
That brief moment of distraction was enough for Rune to separate himself from Bru's mind. Bru turned his head to see Rune was right behind him. In his peripheral vision, Bru saw the Rune in front of him scatter like a shadow.
"Another fake!?" Bru growled through his teeth.
Rune didn't answer, he only smiled; but Bru couldn't see the smile in that form. Rune ignited his horn in a blur of orange and blue. Bru tried to move but his body was stiff.
'That little!' Bru thought, just as Rune's horn blasted a large burst of his orange/blue magic at his back. The force sent Bru flying across the room and the impact shock the arena.
Bru didn't skip a beat and blasted a teal colored stream, almost like a straight laser line at Rune. Rune jumped back and blasted at the beam, causing it to explode prematurely. The explosion's force sent Rune against the nearby wall. Rune, not skipping a beat either, gathered as much strength as he could to his legs. Kicking off as hard as he could, Rune bounced off the wall and with no real air resistance, due to the low gravity, Rune's momentum was greatly increased.
"That won't work!" Bru shouted, igniting his horn again, a light grey color. Countless, small, light grey scales appeared and formed together in front of Bru in the form of a slightly curved shield. Rune, unable to stop, turned his body and put as much magic as he could into his hooves.
"He's gonna smash the shield with his hooves?!" Dusk commented in surprise.
Calligraphy and Nightwing said nothing, only watched at the edge of their seats. Rune's hooves slammed down hard on the shield. The pain that shot through Rune's body was almost unbearable. Nothing was broken but given the pain, it might as well of been.
"He lucked out again." Calligraphy noted. "If he didn't put magic behind that kick, his legs would've shattered."
"I win boy." Bru said, igniting his horn, but his horn's light died down when he saw Rune do what he never would of thought of.
Rune took his head and began bashing it hard against the shield, shaking it a bit with each impact.
"So you're trying to break your skull?!" Bru mocked. "You could never brea-"
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It was faint but Bru was speechless. Looking at Rune, he saw that the same spot Rune was skull bashing was forming a small crack. Bru only shouted loudly as his horn reignited.
"YOU THINK YOU CAN WIN!?" The light was getting bigger and brighter. "I AM THE FUTURE OF THE CHILDREN, NOT YOU!!!!''
Bru blasted his magic and the shot shattered the shield into grey shards, leaving Rune, who was now powered down, floating in the air. But the attack just missed Rune. To the audience, though, it would appear that the attack struck Rune.
"Rune?!" Dusk, Calligraphy, and Nightwing said aloud in concern.
"I win." Bru said, seeing Rune slowly float to the ground. Believing he has won, Bru walked over to Rune. Both Bru and Rune's bodies were covered in bruises, scrapes and cuts. "I shall lead the Children to glory. NOT YOU!"
To his shock, Bru saw the point of Rune's horn aimed at his face, only mere inches away. Bru's eyes slowly looked down and saw Rune's mocking smile.
"Got ya." Rune said, suddenly unleashing the remainder of his magic at point-blank range at Bru's face.
There was no time to dodge or do a counter spell, Bru and Rune took the full impact of that attack, sending Rune against the ground, but Bru against the ceiling. When any smoke or dust was cleared away, the audience was in shock, surprise, awe, basically every possible emotion anypony could feel in this situation. Bru's body landed to the ground to a soft thud but he wouldn't move. The illuminated walls died down and the crowd remained silent.
"The walls stopped." Dusk stated.
"The walls would only deactivate if one of them was unconscious." Calligraphy answered.
"Or dead." Nightwing added.
"Somepony send a judge!" Greene shouted. 'There's no way that boy could win.'
A few guards came running into the arena and checked both Bru and Rune over.
"And what do the judges say?" Greene asked.
One of the guards whispered in a Councillor's ears and he almost fell over in shock. That Councillor whispered in Greene's ear. Greene's composure was possibly the most humorous, his green beard almost turned white. Gathering his composure, Green spoke to the crowd.
"Children of the Night! The Trial of the Moon is over!" Green announced to the now roaring crowd. "The victory is....Dawn...Rune!"
Everypony almost fell out of their seats.
"There's no way!" Comet said in disbelief. "There's no way Bru could've-"
But she was cut off by the sight of Bru being carried off on a stretcher, while Rune slowly eased himself to a standing position. It was obvious he was in some lingering pain. Comet immediately sat back in her seat. As Green continued his announcement.
"Dawn Rune!" Greene continued. "You have passed your trial. So now you shall choose the path the Children shall follow. And for your efforts and victory, it is the will of the Council to bestow you the honor of our ranks, you are now one of the Children of the Night!"
The crowd creamed and shouted with applause. Calligraphy, Dusk, and Nightwing were clapping their hooves loudly. Rune didn't answer, he only raised his two hooves in victory, then fell on his back. Guards ran in with another stretcher to bring Rune out of the arena.
"Now what happens?" Dusk asked and he, Nightwing and Calligraphy left the arena to see Rune.
"When Rune recovers, or at least wakes up." Calligraphy explained. "He will propose a plan to the Council and the Oracle."
"I can't believe he beat a pony like that." Dusk noted.
"He took a gamble." Nightwing explained. "After he floated down to the ground, he pretended to be defeated. Bru always like to see the look of his defeated enemy's eyes when they lost. But in this case, Rune shot all the magic he had left before Bru could protect himself. It was a gamble but that idiot is rather lucky."
"Let's hurry to him." Calligraphy said. "When he wakes, I want to smack him for being so stupid."
The three ponies picked up the pace along the hall. Back in the arena, all but Greene and Comet remained. Comet was still frozen in shock at what she saw.
"I am sorry Comet." Greene said. "But now we must do as the Trial and Oracle dictates. Rune shall decide our fate."
Greene left Comet alone. With nopony around, nopony saw a few tears leave Comet's angry eyes. "Cowards. I refuse to accept this." She then thought of Bru. "And I know you do too."
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
It was hours later when Bru awoke in his private chambers, he felt a heavy pain on his chest and head but what's more was the shame and humiliation his mind felt. Getting out of bed, he looked himself over in the nearby mirror, only a few scraps and bruises but all but he could still see Rune's stupid face in the mirror mocking him. With a swift punch of the hoof, the mirror of was shattered. The slight pain in his bleeding hoof paled in comparison to his anger.
"I refuse to accept this." Bru said to himself. "I will not let out kingdom fall and our legacy die over the choice of an outsider!"
"We agree." A voice came from the shadows. Out of a dark corner, Comet walked out. "We agree with your choice Bru. An outside has no right to determine the Children's destiny. We shall stand by your side."
"Gather all that you can." Bru ordered.
"We saw the eyes of the Children as you battled that fool." Comet bowed. "More than a third have already taken your side before it ended. But after your loss, few of the Children will follow. More than half of the Council is speaking against your plans to save face."
"Then those few are of the chosen." Bru lit his horn, and using magic, the wounds around his body were healed. "Be sure to capture Midnight. We need the Oracle alive...for now."
"And the remaining Children?" Comet asked.
"They have surrendered their pride as Children in favor of a stranger." Bru answered coldly, he angry eyes reflected in the shattered mirror shard along the floor. "They deserve to rot."
Comet bowed and vanished into the dark corner.
"The time has come." Bru said to himself, looking out the window of his chambers, the fake sky glistened over the kingdom. "Ask not the sun why she sets, Why she shrouds her light away, Or why she hides her glowing gaze, When night turns crimson gold to grey."
Bru ignited his horn and all the light in the room gathered to a single point in the room. Tapping his horn on the stone wall, the section of the wall melted away in the form of a doorway.
With no hesitation or fear, or even caution, Bru walked down the stone corridor, his horn as his only light. "For silent falls the guilty sun, As day to dark does turn, One simple truth she dare not speak:, Her light can only blind and burn."
His walk was short, he reached the end of the corridor with was another stone wall. Tapping his horn in several specific places, the stone melted away, revealing a small room with countless scrolls, charts, maps, books, and candles. In the center of the room was a set of armor, one adorned with black crystals and barbed thorns.
Bru grabbed hold of the helmet, a crown made of black crystal horns and thorns, placing it upon his head. "No mercy for the guilty, Bring down their lying sun, Blood so silver black by night, Upon their faces pale white."
Now fully armored, Bru made his way to the far end of the room. There, he heard the sounds of countless other ponies. Looking out, Bru stood atop a small ledge, looking down to see his forces, less than maybe a hundred of the Children have come, all dressed for war. Weapons held, horns ignited, battle cries shouting Bru's name with honor. "Cruel moon, bring the end, The dawn will never rise again."
Dusk and Rune: The Children of the Night
It wasn't until the next day that Rune awoke to find himself in a small room. It looked more like a medical wing than a bedroom. Looking around, he saw nopony about. The room had very little furniture, only a few nightstands, a dresser and a few beds. Laying back, Rune thought about what happened. Despite the obvious disadvantage, he defeated that Bru pony, and is now recognized as a Children of the Night. But as his mind went back to the Trial, Rune's mind went towards the moment he was in Bru's mind. Although his mind was a tough read, Rune was able to penetrate deep enough into Bru's mind to see some of his plan. Closing his eyes, Rune tried to remember what he saw. Brief and swift images flashed in Rune's mind, but Rune couldn't make them out.
"Rune? Are you awake." Calligraphy asked, opening the door and cutting off Rune's train of thought.
"Oh hey Calligraphy." Rune responded, noticing Calligraphy walk in without Dusk or Nightwing with her. "Where are the others?"
"They're waiting in the Council Chambers, waiting for your decision." Calligraphy answered.
"Decision?" Rune asked, then felt a hit smack on the head by Calligraphy's hoof.
"Yes idiot. Decision." Calligraphy hasn't been this angry with Rune since he was a colt. "You passed the Trial and now the fate of the Children depends solely on what you decide. Don't mess this up!" It wasn't even a second that Rune got out of the bed that Calligraphy quickly gave Rune a sudden hug. This kinda surprised Rune but at the same time, this isn't the first time Calligraphy smacked him only to hug him. He used to get those quite a lot as a colt. "I'm just glad you're alive Rune, that Trial could've killed you."
"I'm fine now Calligraphy." Rune smiled softly, hugging back. "Let's head to the Council."
Calligraphy and Rune made it down the hall and not even a few feet from the door did they run into Comet, who didn't look too happy.
"Councillor Comet." Calligraphy nodded. "Have all assembled?"
"All but Councillor Bru." Comet answered, trying to hold back the anger in her words. "He is still bedridden and I am to speak for him."
"Very well." Calligraphy nodded and walked into the Council Chambers with Rune, Comet only walking in slowly after.
The interior of the Council room was a large room, with torches illuminating along the wall and in the center was a massive round table. Eleven of the total Council sat along the table's edge, each Councillor's seat had a carving of an astrological zodiac sign. Greene's seat had a carved lion, Nightwing's had a carving of twin ponies holding hooves; Comet walked past Calligraphy and Rune and sat in a seat with a carved pony with a snake wrapped around it. Dusk, the only other non-council member, stood quietly behind Nightwing. Calligraphy, making no noise walked over to her seat, which had a carved measuring scale on it, Rune simply stood behind her. Looking around, Rune also noticed that there were two chairs that were empty, one had a carved scorpion, most likely Bru's seat; while the last seat had a carved ram on it but it was covered in dust and comb webs, as if no pony has sat in that chair for years.
"Calligraphy?" Rune whispered. "Why is that seat so old and worn?"
"We don't speak of why." Calligraphy whispered back calmly, but if Rune saw her expression, he;d never believe her. Calligraphy, only for a moment, held an expression of anger, remorse, and sorrow, all at once.
"It seems we have all gathered." Green began the meeting. "Now we shall begin our meeting." There was silence in the room, several Councillors looked amongst themselves and at Dusk and Rune. "Dawn Rune has passed his Trial and has been chosen by the Oracle and the Goddess to choose our fate." Greene than glanced over to Rune. "What is your plan?"
Rune stepped forward, he cleared his throat and gathered whatever thoughts he had. "Councillors, I feel it is time we do reveal ourselves to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna."
There were a few gasps in the group. A few Councillors were more shocked that Rune address Celestia by name rather than "Sun Tyrant" and Luna rather than "Goddess".
"It seems you will have to elaborate." Greene requested.
"I plan to." Rune said clearly. "So hear me out."
As Rune began to explain his plan, possibly the first thing he's ever talked about that he actually thought about before speaking, Comet looked out of the only small window in the room and saw that the false sky's Moon was setting soon. It was almost time for her to play her part.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Bru walked among his troops, there weren't as many as there would of been had he won, but he would make do. He saw the determination in their eyes and their devotion to him. Bru has been planning for this assault for years, but never could convince the Council. This rare moment of excitement had him thinking of the first time he tried to convince the Council to march to war, he had almost all of them convinced, except for the pony who sat in the ram chair. That Councillor turned him down time and time again. Thinking about how he had that pony taken care of brought and even rarer smile of excitement across Bru's face. Composing and looking back at the troops, Bru began his own speech.
"Children of the Night." Bru began, every pony became quiet and listened. "Or rather, the "True" Children of the Night. You all know that we have suffered under the Sun Tyrant for countless centuries, since the eve she banished our Mother away. But now even though the Goddess has returned to us, she has not come back to us. Why is that? It is because she doesn't know we are alive. She has never forgotten who we are but the Sun Tyrant would have her believe we have died off. Will we allow this to continue?"
"NEVER!!!!" The crowd cheered.
"Now come my Brothers and Sisters!" Bru turned towards the false Moon as it set slowly towards the entrance. "Come now Children and let us regain our Mother and fell the Sun Tyrant. And those who would see us under the reign of the Sun's tyranny, let them rot in the prisons of their own fear and cowardice!"
The soldiers cheered and shouted louder as they followed Bru beginning his march. It wasn't until that Bru and his sizable militia reached the edge of the city. Gesturing his troops to gather in the boats, Bru raised his horn and fired a blast of a dark green and black mass of energy sky ward, until it struck the false sky with a loud crash and sticking to it.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
At the same time of Bru's speech, Rune had finished his. The Council was quite moved by Rune's notion. This was definitely something Rune could never think of again.
"It seems that we have reached an agreement." Greene saw the expressions in the Council. "We, the Council of the tenth generation Children of the Night decree that-"
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A loud noise sounded, as if the false sky was truck with something hard and fast. The shocked Council looked towards the window. Some even ran to it to see what happened.
"What happened?!" Greene demanded.
"The sky was struck by something." The aqua unicorn stallion, with a darker blue maned who sat in the seat with a carved pony holding pony holding a pot.
"A ball of magic I believe." The brown earth mare, with a small twin purple mowhawks who sat in the seat with a carved bull.
"What's happening?!!" Nightwing snapped, rising from his seat.
Comet couldn't hold back her excitement anymore, her laugh was a maniacal mixture of pleasure and entertainment. "It's too late traitors!" Comet rose from her seat, along with the red unicorn mare with no mane sitting in the seat with a carved crab, and another indigo unicorn stallion with his mane covering his eyes who sat in the seat with a carved pony holding a bow.
"Councillor Comet, Councillor Pulse Wave, Councillor Burning Soul." Greene demanded an answer. "What is the meaning of this!!?"
"A farewell present." Comet, Pulse, and Soul bowed. "Bru has the right answer for how the Children should live and you will all rot with your poor choice."
Nightwing jumped at Comet with his rear leg ready to send her flying, only to have Pulse's and Soul's horn light up and the three ponies vanished. Not skipping a beat, Nightwing ran straight out the window and flew to the only place he figured those three would go. Turns out Nightwing was right, it was only a couple minutes before he saw the three ponies joining up with Bru. In his haste, Nightwing failed to notice that Bru's magic had long began it's effect. Quickly, countless tendrils of black vine-like magic twisted and gnarled in all directions until they struck the ground. Between the gaps of these tendrils, a dark green, yet clear screen closed the gaps. The gap Nightwing was flying to at top speed was close to closing.
"Bru Tality!!!! Nightwing shouted, flying as fast as he could, only to feel the sudden impact of the screen strike him. The impact didn't hurt as if he struck a solid object at high speeds. It felt more like he fled headlong into an electric current, the force sent him flying back towards the city, crashing into the small building. The last thing Nightwing saw before blacking out was Bru's triumphant smile.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
"What happened?!" Calligraphy demanded.
"There's a massive barrier over the city!" A Councillor said. "Like a giant bird cage."
"It's too late." Greene uttered, his eyes were terrified and his hooves were shaking. "We're all trapped here."
Calligraphy wasted no time, she grabbed Green by the beard and slammed him on the table. "YOU KNOW SOMETHING! EXPLAIN!"
Everypony was very shocked by Calligraphy's action but nopony stopped her.
"Bru has taken his forces and marches to wage his war." Greene explain in his fear.
"Bru would dishonor the Trial's results, and the Oracles!?" A Councillor stated.
"Bru is the future of the Children." Greene stated. "Or at least I believed he was. He promised that so long as I supported him, I would have a seat with the new generation of Children. But he has abandoned me."
"We have to stop him." Dusk stated.
"Impossible." Greene stated.
"Explain! Now!" Calligraphy grabbed Greene again and slammed him hard against the wall, knocking his chair out of the way.
"The bird cage is made to keep the Children inside. Nothing can leave." Greene muttered.
"Maybe the Oracle could-" A Councillor suggested but Greene interrupted.
"It is too late." Greene said.
"What could that-" Calligraphy asked but then realized the answer. "Rune?!" Calligraphy turned but Rune was already gone.
Rune galloped as fast as his hooves could carry, heading straight to the Oracle's chambers. "Please be okay." Rune said to himself.
Upon reaching the chambers, Rune's fear was realized. The door was half way open, but the inside was a mess. Chairs and tables were flipped and tossed across the room. Water was soaking most of the floor. It looked as though somepony tried to fillynap Midnight and she put up a struggle.
"MIDNIGHT?!" Rune looked around but couldn't find her.
"Rune?" Dusk and Calligraphy called but found Rune in the room and saw its condition.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Back at the boats that Bru was using to travel away from the Lunar Kingdom, Bru sat along with Comet, Pulse, and Soul.
"Hard to believe what's about to happen." Soul chuckled a bit.
"It is necessary." Pulse stated, taking a calm breath and looking at Midnight, who was bound by tight ropes. "I am sorry Oracle, but I feel it is Bru who can lead us, not this Rune character."
"Too bad for Greene." Comet teased. "But that's what happens when you turn on us."
"He was still an honorable Councillor and Children." Bru stated, standing up as if holding a eulogy. "He could've been saved but chose to rot with the old ways. Now comes the new era of the Children."
Midnight said nothing, only stared at the ponies in a state of subtle anger, but in her head, she was terrified.
"Please don't be so upset Oracle." Pulse tried to relax Midnight. "Know in your heart, that we are doing this for the future of the Children."
Midnight looked away and said nothing.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
"We have to save her!" Rune suggested to the remaining Councillors, pacing back and forth.
"How?!" A Councillor asked. "We've tried for hours, Bru is at Canterlot by now, there's no way to break the barrier."
"There is." Nightwing said, walking into the room, bandages on his head and limping as if he sprained something. "We awaken the Owl."
"ARE YOU MAD!!!" Almost everypony exclaimed loudly.
"I'll have to agree with the others." Calligraphy nodded. "We don't even know why the Owl has been silent for years and you know just as well as the rest of us that it's forbidden."
"So is ponynapping your Oracle to declare war I bet." Rune snapped rather rudely.
No pony could answer, they only had an expression of uncertainty.
"Let's go to the Owl." Rune said, gesturing the Nightwing.
Nightwing, Dusk, and Rune left the room. It was only a couple minutes before Calligraphy followed after, leaving the rest behind. A few twists and turns around the halls and up several flights of stairs before the ponies reached a large stone door. Engraved on the door was the image of a large owl with several smaller ponies underneath.
"This is it." Calligraphy gulped in a nervous state.
"Let's do this." Rune lifted his hooves and pushed hard on the door.
Dusk, Nightwing, and soon enough Calligraphy pushed on the door with all their might. After a couple minutes, the door slowly budged, the sound of heavy stones rubbing against each other. The doors soon opened, slowly, cobwebs breaking between the space that was growing larger and larger. When the door was fully open, the ponies looked ahead. Despite being outside, at the top of the tallest tower, it was dark, almost impossible to see anything. As their eyes adjusted, the group saw a massive metal cage, made of what looked like a darkened silver. But it was inside the cage is what shocked them. Slowly, a dark mass lifted itself up inside the cage, making almost no noises. Nightwing and Calligraphy fell to the ground in fear, bowing so low, their faces were almost in the ground. Dusk, and Rune felt a sense of fear as well; Dusk's legs went weak and wobbly, while Rune couldn't stop looking at it. The mass in the cage slowly turned what looked like its head until the shape of a large black owl's face stared at the ponies. Rune's gaze was transfixed by the Owl's cold, yellow eye. Suddenly, Rune's sight vanished, and all went blank.
Dusk and Rune: The Children of the Night
Rune looked around best he could, and saw nothing; just an endless darkness.
"Where am I?" He asked himself.
Looking around, Rune saw nothing but darkness; not some endless void but as if he was in an enclosed vessel. Despite the near claustrophobic feeling the vessel would give off, it somehow felt comforting and warm. It wasn't too long before a faint vibration was felt. The vibration soon spread all around him, the blackness soon began to crack. With a sudden burst, the darkness shattered around Rune. There was a light, it was blinding, but a figure soon covered that light. As his eyes adjusted, Rune saw a young dark blue alicorn with a mane that that twinkled like stars; it was Luna but, but she looked younger.
"Lulu." Called a familiar voice.
"Tia, look." Luna called to a young Celestia. "The egg hatched."
"Let me see." Celestia walked over. "Aww what a cute baby owl."
"I know right." Luna said hugging the little black owl close to her.
Rune felt a sense of warmth and love,but then realized something very strange. Rune was the owl.
"I'll name you Inaba." Luna said, looking at the cute little baby owl.
Rune's vision then blurred and faded away. When his vision recovered, he saw an endless void. But there was no darkness, but images, hundreds of thousands of countless images and visions. Looking at himself, Rune saw himself as a pony again, but then looked up. Before him stood the owl, massive and menacing. Yet Rune felt no fear.
"Inaba." Rune replied. "That's your name."
Inaba nodded.
"And these are all your memories?" Rune looked at the visions.
Inaba nodded, but then gestured its massive wing towards a nearby cluster of images. Rune looked over and saw another memory.
"Celestia would never approve of what we've done." Luna on a small shore, a still small Inaba on her shoulder and at least a few dozen small fillies and colts behind her. Many were in a dirty and poor state. Only a few looked well nourished and clean.
After a long argument with her sister on the subject, Luna, in secret, brought any filly and colt in Canterlot who were either homeless or abused, some simply chose to leave their lives behind to join Luna. Through a hidden under ground river, Luna brought all these foals to the interior of the mountain that supported Canterlot. In front of the group, Rune could see the land of the Lunar Kingdom, but there were no houses or even the castle.
"Pwincess." One of the colts said, tugging at Luna's wing. "Wat awe we gowng to oo?"
"It's okay little ones." Luna said with care and confidence. "We did not save you from the streets and sewers only to have your home be ruined."
Arching her head forward, her wings spread wide and her horn illuminating like a bright star. Firing the magic into the air, the light of the magic grew and grew until it formed a Moon. Switching her magic to a darker blue color, Luna pointed her horn towards the ground. Her eyes then erupted with a glowing white and swiftly lifted her horn up. The ground began to rumble, subtly at first but then the tremors became more and more intense. The surrounding cave walls soon cracked and disintegrated, forming more space, and much of the water vanished, allowing more land to form. The disintegrated elements gathered above the land in the form of twinkling lights and then rained upon the land. As the twinkling lights touched the rumbling ground, portions of the land twisted and moved as if alive. The portions soon settled into what looked like houses. The final touches of the spell was the remaining lights fired into the air to form stars.
"Your new homes fillies and colts." Luna smiled, watching the smiling foals ran around in a merry manner. "Fillies and Colts." Luna then announced. "We have given you the means to survive, but we must leave or else our sister shall notice our absence."
"Nooo." The foals protested. "Don't leave us."
"Fear not." Luna smiled, gesturing towards thirteen of the oldest looking ponies, who were still young but older than the rest. "We shall leave you thirteen to watch over your fellow ponies."
"We will." A few smiled while other still didn't want Luna to leave.
"And we shall leave Inaba to watch over you all." Luna said as Inaba jumped to one of the thirteen. "Inaba shall protect you, and remember, we shall return."
Luna then looked at the eyes of the ponies and vanished and a blur of magic and shadow.
"Those were the first Children?" Rune asked, looking back at the owl.
Inaba nodded, but pointed at another section.
It has been a generation since Luna brought the children to live in the hidden land. During which, Luna has come and gone to bring aid to the Children. In that time, the Children have built better houses, and even the foundation of the soon to be castle. Some Children even acculturated back to the world outside the Lunar Kingdom but never forgot their roots, always returning when they could. Inaba has grown larger and larger, now the size of a large dog.
"We're happy that our children have grown." Luna smiled. "And we are thankful you have been there to guide and protect them Inaba."
Inaba smiled as it adorably rubbed its head against Luna.
"But we have sad news Inaba." Luna frowned. "Our sister tells us that there is a unicorn in a distant kingdom who is waging war and we must stop her."
Inaba let out a sad coo.
"Don't be sad Inaba." Luna hugged the large owl. "We shall return."
The image blurred away and all Rune saw after that was the Lunar Kingdom over the last thousand years. Inaba simply stood watch, even as the kingdom grew larger and more and more Children were born. For the last thousand years, Inaba stood watch, staying in the Kingdom and rested in the large birdcage, its last gift from Princess Luna.
"You've been waiting all this time?" Rune asked, looking at Inaba.
Inaba nodded, even though it didn't speak, Rune felt a great sadness from Inaba.
"It's because Luna was sealed in the Moon." Rune exclaimed to Inaba's surprise. "As I was reading your memories, you must have been reading mine! Luna became Nightmare Moon and was sealed away for a thousand years. When she returned, she must of feared you were all wiped out and couldn't bring herself to return here. You've seen her in my memories haven't you?!"
Inaba's eyes widened, thinking back to what it was seeing in Rune's mind. Memories, images, visions, all passing through its mind. Luna's smiling grin, her sorrowful eyes, but her confident demeanor all came back to Inaba. Inaba couldn't help but feel all the pent up emotions over the centuries swell up. Tears soon began pouring from its eyes. Luna didn't abandon Inaba or the Children as it once feared.
"But Luna is in danger!" Rune snapped Inaba out of it. "Bru is going to use the Midnight and many of the Children to wage war with Celestia. The Children will die and Canterlot will burn! You must help us!"
Inaba's mind went back to the last time it saw Luna, the feelings of regret and sorrow of her departure and the pain of not seeing her since. Inaba raised its head and let out its screech:
"KKKKKKKKKKKKKYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
The world around both Rune and Inaba faded away and Rune saw himself besides Dusk, Calligraphy, and Nightwing.
"Rune?!" All three ponies said.
"What happened?" Calligraphy asked.
"No time!" Rune said, charging at the massive cage smashing his side against it.
"What are you doing!?" Nightwing asked.
"We have to get Inaba out!" Rune said, ramming into the cage again and again. "It's the only way to escape, stop Bru and save Canterlot."
"Inaba?" Calligraphy said in shock then looked at Inaba. "So you told Rune your true name great Owl."
Calligraphy's resolve was set and joined Rune in ramming against the cage. Nightwing and Dusk soon joined in the smashing. Soon the cage bars were bending but it wasn't enough. Inaba looked at the four ponies who were working so hard to break it out. It saw that the ponies were getting bruised and bloodied from the charges, Inaba knew what it had to do. Raiding its mighty body, Inaba smashed itself against the cage, joining in. Quickly, the bars soon bend and bowed until they finally snapped in half.
"We did it!" Dusk said.
Inaba folded its wings and walked out of the cage, lowing its head toward the ponies.
"Great Owl!?" Nightwing said. "You don't mean?"
"Let's go!" Rune said, jumping on Inaba's back.
Dusk, Calligraphy. and Nightwing joined Rune. Inaba then spread its massive wings for the first time in centuries and:
"KKKKKKKKKKKKKYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
Inaba then jumped from the ground and took to the air, flying towards the cage that held the Children in the Kingdom.
"We're coming for you Bru." Rune said to himself. "And we will stop you."
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
At the entrance of Canterlot, Bru, along with his small group disguised themselves as a small traveling caravan to gain entrance into the city. Looking up at the castle, Bru's rare smile emerged again.
"And so it begins." Bru said to himself as he gestured his "caravan" to follow.
Dusk and Rune: The Children of the Night
The streets of Canterlot were colorful, happy, and loud...it made Bru sick to his stomach looking at all the happy Sun worshipers. But their happiness would soon change to fear. After docking their boats, Bru and the Children he brought used their magic to break down the boats and turning them into wagons. Posing as a traveling caravan, Bru was easily able to enter Canterlot with no hassle. As Oracle and the remaining Children were hidden in the wagons, Bru, Comet, Pulse, and Soul trotted besides it.
"Master Bru?" Pulse asked, walking besides him. "The Oracle is secured and ready. But do you believe it will happen? Will you truly receive the blessing?"
"Of course he will!" Comet snapped at Pulse. "Master Bru is destined to lead the Children to greatness and with it, comes the Oracle's blessing."
"But we all know what will happen if the Oracle bestows her blessing." Pulse replied. "And what of these black crystals you all gave us Comet? I've seen what they do to ponies, and I've seen what happens when the inflicted pony falls."
"Master Bru has developed a weapon to fight against the Sun Tyrant. And thanks to the sacrifices of our honored Children, we now know where she will be." Comet lectured quite harshly.
"At the cost of becoming dust on the floor when they died." Pulse snapped, looking at Bru. "What say you Master Bru?"
Bru looked up at the Canterlot castle and very stone faced replied. "Sacrifices must be made to save the Children."
There was no more talking amongst the caravan, save for any whispers in the wagons and Midnight's muffled screams. There was no interference nor distraction from their goal. The castle grew ever closer and Bru's anticipation and excitement was getting harder to control. He was so distracted by his struggles with his self control that he didn't notice that he had now reached the castle front gates.
"Halt!" A day guard ordered, approaching with caravan with another guard. "What business do you have here?"
Bru turned his stone cold gaze at the guard. "Vengeance."
With a swift motion of his head from one side to the next, both guards were lifted up and thrown against the gate door. Comet saw this opportunity and gave a loud whistle, signalling the wagons to burst open and the militia of Children poured out.
"Now earth ponies , cause chaos in the streets, bring the guards to you!" Comet ordered in Bru's place. "The rest shall come with us and we shall raze this castle and reunite with our Mother! We shall let them all know and fear, that the Children. Have. Returned!!!"
The militia cheered loudly, alerting practically the entire city. A small group turned around and began charging at the city, the earth ponies stampeded through the streets, knocking down anything that came their way. It wasn't too long before the streets began to panic.Sure enough, the pegasi guards came flying in to stop the rampage.
"Pegasi, now!" Comet ordered as the pegasi Children took to the air and easily took the flying guards by surprise. The Children knocked the Pegasi guards from the sky but nopony was killed.
"Let's go." Bru ordered. "Pegasi shall deal with any guards as the Earth Children continue their assault. Unicorns will come with us."
The Children separated into their groups and The Unicorns followed Bru, along with Soul and Pulse. Comet stayed behind to lead the Pegasi. The courtyard was empty, but it didn't remain so. Bru only made it twenty steps before small groups of unicorn guards, lead by Shining Armor appeared.
"I don't know why you're here. Nor does it matter." Armor ordered. "Leave now and you shall be spared."
"Soul." Bru ordered.
Soul stepped forward, his mane covered gaze looked around the area.
"There are exactly fifty-seven unicorn guards and it seems a few of them are subtly trembling with fear." Soul said in a monotone voice. "Your orders Master Bru?"
"I want them removed from my sight." Bru instructed.
"As you command." Soul removed the cloak that covered him, revealing his eye cutie mark. "My name is Burning Soul and I am shall remove you from my master's sight."
The unicorn guards armed their horns, ready to strike. Soul's composure remained unaffected. He simply waited.
"Fire!" Armor ordered.
Immediately, all the guards open fired a few small bursts of magic at Soul. Soul remained unfazed, as if he had no plan on moving. Lifting his head, Soul's horn glowed a mix of bright white and dark blue. The air around him became heavy looking, very wavy, as if it was water. The magical attacks dissolved away into this distorted air.
"Wait?!" Armor was taken back, but then a gut feeling told him to turn around. Looking behind him, Armor saw several eyes, all different sized and designs in the color and iris. "Get down!" Armor ordered, causing every guard to try and duck down.
"Too slow." Souls informed.
Each eye opened wide and the same attacks the guards unleashed were launched at the guards themselves, knocking all of them to the ground. Soul turned back at Bru and bowed his head in emotionless success.
"All guards are defeated Master Bru." Soul informed. "All injured, no casualties."
"Good." Bru nodded but maintained a serious expression.
"You..son of a--ach!" Armor tried to threaten but was kicked in the stomach by Soul.
"My apologies Master Bru." Soul said. "It seems this one is still active."
"Captain Shining Armor." Bru said, his horn igniting and lifting Armor into the air. "A captain of the day guard makes a good hostage. Come now Children and see the might of the night over the weak day."
Bru, with now a helplessly hovering Armor as hostage continued their way down the halls. Thanks to the efforts of Comet and the earth ponies, the only guards who remained were all unicorns; but these guards were easily defeated, their limb but alive bodies were littering the halls. It wasn't long before Bru reached his destination, the royal throne room.
"Here is where we change everything." Bru ordered his forces. "This is where the Sun shall set for the final time."
Bru gestured to Wave, who walked towards the massive door. The shadows in the hall gathered around Wave, wrapping themselves around her hooves as if the shadows were muddy water. With a left of her hooves and a slam, the doors were practically torn open. The throne room was filled almost to the ceiling with unicorn day guards. In the center of the room was Princess Celestia but her face shown a dead serious look.
"I would like to know who you are and why you are attacking us." Celestia tried to open discussion.
"We are the forgotten." Bru answered, stepping forward, making sure to show his hostage so the guards wouldn't attack. "We are the Children who were abandoned, saved and then left to rot. For centuries, we have suffered under your rule and shall bring back the beautiful night of our Mother."
Celestia was puzzled by Bru's comment but then she figured it out. "So you're here for Luna?"
"Luna?!" Bru gestured at his forces, each unicorn immediately blasted at each guard, incapacitating them. Bru then threw Armor over towards his defeated guards. Bru then turned and walked towards Celestia. Celestia remained composed but looked ready to defend. "We...Come...For...Blood!!!"
With a shout and an upwards arch of his horn, a blade of shadow torn from the ground and slashed at Celestia. Celestia found herself unable to stop the attack or even ignite her horn in time. A fine line of blood followed and began pouring from her. The cut wasn't fatal but deep enough to stop Celestia from fighting back. Every guard and Armor tried to aim at Bru but were kicked in the face by the Children.
"NOOO!!!!" Everypony heard a loud scream from the end of the hall.
Bru looked over, but by the time he turned his head, that:
Already was mere inches from his face.
"HOW DARE YOU!!!!!" Twilight shouted, her body slammed against Bru's body with great force, sending him across the room and smashed through a marble pillar.
"It seems there was an unknown." Soul spoke in his monotone voice.
Despite Twilight's attack, Bru appeared unharmed. His mane was a little out of place and his coat was a bit scoffed but between him and Twilight was Soul.
"I apologized I couldn't stop her in time Master Bru." Soul apologized.
"Just be rid of her." Bru ordered.
"Already done Master." Wave answered, the muddy water-like shadows collected under the angry Twilight and immediately engulfed her in a spherical prison.
Twilight tried to shout but was only losing air with each struggle to escape the shadowy liquid that was slowly drowning her. Despite her efforts, and even blasts of magic, Twilight couldn't even get one hoof out of the sphere. It wasn't long before Twilight's air was almost out. Right as she was about to lose it, Wave dispelled the sphere and the now unconscious Twilight lay wet and motionless on the floor.
"She still breathes." Wave said to the wounded Celestia. "But you might not live much longer. What are your orders Master Bru?"
"I want them locked away." Bru responded, tossing Armor between Twilight and Celestia. "I want the Night guard enlisted. Those who refuse will join the Sun Tyrant. And most importantly, do not disturb the Mother, she is resting and will need her strength when the Night comes."
The Children bowed and the unicorns chained their prisoners and started getting them out of the room. It was then that Bru raised his hoof.
"Better yet." Bru ordered. "Bind the former Princess, her captain, and this other one the wall. I want them to watch their fall."
Celestia, Armor, and Twilight were bound and chained to three pillars on the other side of the room. The Unicorn Children stood guard along the sides of the wall. Some were wondering the halls, making sure to knock down any Day guard they came upon. It wasn't too long before some Children, lead by Soul found the Night guard barracks.
Soul, leading his small group of Children into the room found that the Night guards were already active and were ready to attack.
"It seems there will be no negotiation." Souls calmly sighed.
Upon his finished sigh, every Night guard leap at Soul, hooves ready, wings drawn, horns ignited.
"Wave." Bru instructed Wave as he awaited Soul's return. "Report."
"My squad have found the Mother's chamber." Wave bowed. "And have made the halls clear and ready for her."
"Good." Bru turned and saw Soul, who looked unfazed and composed walk back. "Report."
"The Night guard refuse to join us." Soul answered. "So I have too proper measurements. No guards are dead, but they will not interfere."
"I shouldn't have expected Non-Children to understand our Plight." Bru looked up at the near window. "Night comes soon." He then turned towards Celestia. "And you are to lower the Sun."
Celestia gave no response. She didn't even look Bru in the eye.
"Why should she?!" Twilight protested very loudly. "What could you possibly gain from this attack?"
"Gain? Gain?!!" Bru back hoofed Twilight, a few small drops of blood hit the floor. He then pointed at Celestia. "What we want is our freedom from the tyranny this creature has done to us."
"You can't possibly think you'll get away with this?" Armor said.
"Yes I do." Bru answered. "Once our mother joins us, we can take over Canterlot and bring forth the night."
"Luna would never join you." Celestia said to herself.
"What was that Tyrant!?" Bru grabbed Celestia by the horn, lifting up her head.
"Luna would never join you or your sick group." Twilight answered.
"Well I've lost patience!" Bru back hoofed Twilight and ignited his horn. "Either lower the Sun or this mare dies, slow."
Celestia tried to maintain her composure but her concern was obvious. With a heavy heart, she raised her horn and her majestic looking aura flared up. Looking out the window, Bru saw the Sun slowly setting.
"It has begun." Bru said with a triumphant grin.
Once the Sun was fully under the horizon, that Bru turned back at Celestia. With a quick blow from his hoof, Bru left a large crack along Celestia's horn. The instant crack caused a magical burst and knocked Celestia unconscious in what looked like a painful process.
"You monster!!" Both Twilight and Armor shouted.
"There is no loose ends." Bru declared, striking at both Armor and Twilight, knocking the wind out of them. "And the Night shall return."
"Master Bru." Wave came running in the room. "I bring news."
"Yes?" Bru didn't even turn around.
"The Mother has awoken!" Wave was ecstatic.
"Bring her here." Bru ordered. "The time has come! Bring the Oracle!"
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Higher and higher Inaba soared and deeper and deeper he bore into the mountain tunnel. Dusk, Rune, Calligraphy, and Nightwing were holding on to the great owl with all their strength and more than once did they almost fall off.
"Rune?" Calligraphy asked. "I have a favor I need to ask."
"What?" Rune responded.
"When we reach the surface, I want you and Dusk to get the ponies to safety." Calligraphy instructed. "Leave Bru to myself and Nightwing."
"Why!?" Rune shouted.
"You're too young." Nightwing responded. "You're not able to face what Bru."
"But-" Rune wanted to say but Dusk put his hoof on Rune's mouth.
"Just accept it Rune." Dusk said. "We should get everypony out of the city."
Rune didn't give a response. He simply kept what he was wanted to say to himself. It was then that Inaba reached the end of the tunnel, a sign of light glowed at the end.
"Be ready to face whatever Bru is planning Calligraphy." Nightwing said.
"Let's hope we're not too late." Calligraphy responded.
Inaba emerged from the end of the tunnel with grace, despite his size. The cold night wind blew against their bodies as they saw the first thing to horrify them. The Moon was not out, yet it was a dark night. The second, was Canterlot, smoke bleeding from the city.
"We have to hurry!" Nightwing shouted.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
"I am sorry Goddess." Bru tried to inquire, kneeling before a stern looking Luna. "But what did you say?"
Besides Bru was Wave and Soul, who kneeled by him. The other Children were kneeling where they stood, all facing Luna. Luna wanted to cast these intruders out, or at the very least yell at them. But Luna saw what was around her; Celestia, Twilight, and Armor were bound and injured, their lives depended on what Luna would do.
"We shall repeat ourselves then." Luna responded, her tone sounded like a scolding mother. "We refuse to raise the Moon. We cannot allow you to gain what you seek. And WE SHALL NOT HAVE YOU DESTROY OUR CITY!!"
The room was quiet. Bru was beyond distraught. Years of planning, countless sacrifices made, hopes and dreams of this day...all shattered before him. Bru didn't know what to do. He thought Luna would be happy to see her Children return, to see Celestia's kingdom burn and crumble. But no, Luna was against it, she thought what Bru was doing was wrong, was evil even. But Bru has spent too much time, lost too much to stop now. He had no choice.
"Goddess." Bru rose and walked toward Luna, speaking only loud enough for only Luna to hear him. "Raise the Moon, or I shall kill the filly behind me." He gestured at Midnight.
"How dare-" Luna tried to say but Bru raised his hoof and ignited his horn, all a while making it look like a none violent talk.
"Raise it, or she dies." Bru threatened again.
"Fine." Luna said with a heavy heart. "We shall raise the Moon."
Luna ignited her horn and spread her wings. Every one of the Children, even those in Canterlot away from the castle could feel the magic emanating from Luna. The dark night sky slowly began to lighten up as the full Moon rose over the horizon. It wasn't until after the Moon had been set into place that Bru approached Luna again.
"No step down and do not interfere." Bru ordered.
"But you said-" Luna tried to say but was interrupted again.
"Yes and you said you would return to us and you never did!" Bru snapped. "You will do as I say and sit upon that throne. The Children of the Night have returned and we shall get our revenge. You will not stop us. You cannot harm your Children."
Luna couldn't answer. She knew Bru was right, in a way. Luna knew who these attackers were the moment she looked at them. She was happy her Children survived over the thousand years, but to see them like this hurt her deeply. She could've easily slay every intruder with ease. But she couldn't bring herself to do it. With an even heavier heart, she turned and sat upon the throne.
"We're sorry." Luna whispered to herself, directing it at Celestia, Twilight, and Armor.
"FELLOW CHILDREN!!!" Bru announced. "OUR TIME HAS COME!! THE GODDESS HAS COME FOR US AND WE SHALL BEGIN THE PURIFICATION!!" He then turned towards Celestia. "Starting with the Sun Tyrant."
Luna couldn't stand by and let her Children kill her sister. As she was about to get up from the throne, there was a tremor in the air, as if the very air was being crushed. Luna stood in place, her horn, along with the other Children's horns letting out dark sparks.
"This..Feeling..." The thought Luna had brought her to tears.
"It couldn't be." Bru said to himself, composing quickly.
"Master Bru!!" Comet shouted, as she burst through the doors.
"Comet!?" Bru said. "What is-"
"It's here!!!" Fearful sweat poured down the panicking Comet's face. "The Owl!! THE GREAT OWL IS UPON US!!!"
"Inaba?!" Luna's tears became subtle tears of joy, knowing her Inaba could be still alive after all this time.
"Impossible!" Bru said. "There's no way-"
KKKKKKKKKKKYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH
The screech broke through the air, halting all words and thought. Every Children felt the same thing...fear...a primal fear prey feels when the predator is upon them. Bru's blood ran cold and his body told him to run as far and as fast as her could. But he couldn't run, he sacrificed too much to be be scared away.
"ThE oWl CoMeS!" Midnight spoke in her more mystic voice, her eyes glowing and her horn sparkling. Everypony turned to look at Midnight. "tHe MoOn'S oWl ShAlL cOmE. aNd NoNe ShAlL eScApE iTs WrAtH!!!"
Dusk and Rune: The Children of the Night
"The city?!" Calligraphy said as she looked on.
Under the light of the Full Moon, Canterlot wasn't burning but smoke spewed into the sky from the rubble buildings.
"Remember the plan." Nightwing said, not looking back at Dusk and Rune. "Calligraphy and I will take care of Bru. You two are to-"
"What the buck!!?" Calligraphy shouted as she felt herself being kicked off Inaba's back.
"What the-" Nightwing turned around and saw a hoof catch him from behind, knocking him off the owl.
Luckily Inaba was low enough to the ground where the fall didn't hurt. Calligraphy and Nightwing both looked up and saw a waving Rune and a panicking Dusk.
"Sorry you two." Rune shouted. "But it's easier if you save the city and we'll handle Bru."
"Rune you moron what are you thinking!!?" Nightwing snapped. "You can't handle-"
"Sorry can't hear you!" Rune ignored, patting Inaba on the back of his neck. "Hurry Inaba, we must get to the castle."
Inaba nodded slightly and flew straight to the castle.
"That son of o-" Nightwing cursed, trotting besides Calligraphy as they entered the city limits. "How can he be so damn stupid. Doesn't he know he's biting more than he can chew."
"He gets it from his mother." Calligraphy couldn't help but chuckle a bit, despite being mad at Rune. "After this is over, he and I are gonna have a little talk. But in the mean time..."
Both Calligraphy and Nightwing looked over and saw the first building of the city. The earth ponies who attacked did their damage but they no longer looked as they did before. Large spike jutted from there shoulders, backs, and heads. Their coat was hard, rigged, and black. Their cutie marks were gone, and their eyes looked dead and white.
"Bru?!" Both ponies said with a shock and disgust. "What have you done?"
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"It's over Bru!" Wave was panicking. "The Owl is coming and we can't stop it!"
Bru remained silent and almost staring off into space.
"Bru!!?" Wave shouted, only to feel the sudden strike of Bru's hoof against her face, knocking her to the ground.
"SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP!!" Bru's shout silenced the room. "I have had enough of this!" Bru stomped straight to Midnight, grabbing her by the horn. "Oracle! Bestow your blessing! Give me the power! Now!"
Midnight remained silent, trying to look away but was still terrified. Bru no long had any patience, in rage, he threw Midnight across the room, hard against a marble column. Wave, Soul, Comet, and every other pony in the room cringed at Bru's action but no Children would dare stop him.
"Do not waste my time Oracle!" Bru demanded even louder. "Give me the Blessing! Give it to me! Give it to me!!"
"I..will...not!" Midnight coughed, her eyes were determined, but her body ached and was in pain from Bru's savagery.
Bru's eyes were wide with anger. This was beyond anger, he was enraged. "If I cannot have the Blessing!" His horn ignited. "Then nopony will have it!"
Right as Bru was about to send his horn down on a terrified Midnight, a dark, shadowy liquid washed over and smacked Bru, sending him towards the wall. Everypony in the room looked over and saw a crying Wave now standing over Midnight.
"This isn't what we agreed upon!" Pulse said, but you can hear fear in her voice. "We were to save the Children, not kill the Oracle!"
"Pulse Wave..." Bru stood up, his coat and mane looks soaked from the black shadow water, he slowly started walked back towards Midnight and Wave. "Thank you, that actually cooled my head."
"Oh! Okay." Wave eased a bit. "Then now you see we shou-"
Immediately, Wave started grabbing at her neck, as if she was being choked by something. Looking up, she saw Bru's horn ignited again. He was chocking her with his magic.
"Pulse Wave..You DARE you stand in the way of MY DESTINY!!!??" Bru was lifting the struggling pony before him, her life slowly leaving her eyes. "I do not suffer betrayal, or weakness."
"Stop!" Midnight started crying. "You're killing her!"
"Then given me the Blessing!" Bru demanded.
Midnight couldn't say anything.
"Very well." Bru said, making his magic grip Wave tighter.
"BRU!!!!!!!!" A loud shout echoed through the halls, disrupting Bru's concentration, dropping the coughing Wave to the floor.
"That voice!?" Bru's eyes were wide with shock and anger. Turning towards the doorway, he saw the pony who shouted. "Dawn Rune."
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Calligraphy and Nightwing had just finished clearing a large group of the corrupted Children rampaging through the streets, yet the more they beat, the more kept coming.
"There's not end to them!" Nightwing said, knocking down another corrupt pony.
"I know but we have to reach the castle and stop Bru." Calligraphy answered, blasting a couple charging at her.
It wasn't too long that among the ruin and rubble, more and more corrupt kept heading towards the two.
"Well look on the bright side." Calligraphy said.
"And that is?." Nightwing asked.
"We at least have something to vent our anger out on." Calligraphy let out a chuckle.
"This is true." Nightwing laughed.
As the next wave of corrupted Children charged at the two, a cloaked figure, with Calligraphy's giant meat cleaver swooped down from atop a building, cutting down the lot of corrupted. It wasn't until this mysterious pony finished slicing through the last of the corrupted that it acknowledged Calligraphy and Nightwing.
"Well if it isn't both the Libra seat and Gemini seat. Calligraphy and Nightwing." The pony's voice was what validated both Calligraphy and Nightwing's belief. "Almost twenty years. I knew the Children were desperate, but not this desperate."
Both Nightwing and Calligraphy's expression was the most shocked. Of all ponies, this was the last they'd think they see.
"It's good to see you in action again." Nightwing nodded respectively.
"Although I would've preferred you didn't use my cleaver." Calligraphy chuckled. "It's good to see you again, former Aries seat."
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________-
Rune didn't say anything, he simply began walking into the room slowly. Each trot echoed in the large room, drawing all attention to him. This was the plan, as Rune kept the Children distracted, Dusk silently went from column to column, untying everypony.
'What's Rune doing?' Luna thought, watching Rune's action, but then saw Dusk freeing everypony. 'Oh I see. Good plan Rune.'
'Thanks.' Rune thought back, his expression unchanged. 'Just let me handle Bru, Dusk and the others can handle the other Children.'
'Rune.' Luna responded with thought. 'Just be careful.'
Rune subtly nodded, now seeing Bru was walking towards him now.
"I see you escaped the bird cage." Bru congratulated. "You even freed, and tamed Inaba, no small feat. Maybe I underestimated your resolve."
"Yeah, I get that a lot." Rune smirked.
"Your arrogance blinds you." Bru looked with a hard grimace. "As a servant to Princess Luna, you should understand how much she has suffered at the Sun Tyrant's hoof. Surely you see the purity and nobility of my actions?"
"Yes." Rune took a deep breath and replied. "I agree that Luna hasn't been given the respect she deserves. But I have seen first hand that there are still ponies, even those not of the Children who still respect her." Rune looked passed Bru, to the side of Luna was Dusk, slowly nodding his head. The other ponies, who were tied up, nodded at Rune. Rune stared directly into Bru's eyes; Rune's horn, now ignited. "And that's why I'm gonna stop you."
"You are making the last mistake of your life." Bru was about to aim his horn at Rune.
"Let's find out. NOW!!!" Rune shouted his signal.
Suddenly the Children turned back at their hostages to find that not only have they been freed, but some have already blasted at the Children, knocking them out. Burning Soul and Comet were not easily taken out. Twilight, along with Luna, got to Celestia and brought her out of the room as fast as they could. Dusk went for Midnight.
"No!" Midnight protested, pointing at the weakened Pulse Wave. "Save Pulse, you have to save Pulse."
Dusk ran back and with the strength of his back and magic, he ran after Twilight, Celestia, and Luna, with Midnight and Pulse on his back. All around him, Bru's plan was falling apart. He could see the Oracle fleeing, he saw his troops being knocked down one by one. Only Soul and Comet, against Armor and a few guards were the remainder of his forces.
"No!!??" Bru shouted, his gaze distracted from Rune for a moment, only to find the second he turned back, he met the shadowy hoof of Nightmare Rune's leg on his face. The impact was weak but strong enough to send him against the wall.
Rune didn't waste time; after landing, he charged at Bru, knocking him through the wall. And this particular wall, lead them to a more open room. Behind him, Rune heard the sound of part of the wall coming down, creating debris to block off the wall.
"Just you and me." Rune smirked.
"It seems so." Bru's composure looked relaxed but inside, he was in a rage. Looking up to the massive stain glass window, depicting both Celestia and Luna, Bru saw the glow of the night's full Moon. Looking back at Rune, Bru was now relaxed. "It seem you can control your Lunar form." Bru complimented. "But it is still too weak." Bru closed his eyes as a dark blue magic glowed around his horn and eyes. "Along me...to educate."
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Master Bru!!" Comet, shouted, charging at the hole Rune made in the wall. Only to be blocked by the sound by the rubble created by Shining Armor's blast.
"You're not going anywhere." Armor declared, his horn raised and aimed at Comet.
Armor was about to blast away Comet, when he had to jump back from an attack by Soul.
"Comet, the situation has changed." Comet said, not changing his gaze from Armor. "You need to go after the Oracle. We need her Blessing or this will be for nothing."
"But Bru?" Comet replied.
"Master Bru can handle one pony. Especially on a Moon like tonight." Soul responded. "Go after the Oracle!"
Comet agreed and began galloping after Midnight and the others.
"You'll not get awa-" Armor tried to stop Comet but was halted by another attack by Soul.
"I'm sorry Captain Armor." Souls nodded. "But I cannot let you stop us. Tonight is far too important."
Armor cringed his teeth and knew he couldn't stop Comet. So he focused his attention at Soul. As the guards and Children fought and fell around the room, Armor and Soul ignored them, focusing only on each other. Armor let lose a barrage of spells and blasts of magic, but Souls remained still, as if the spells vanished or even absorbed into the air. Armor's already seen this spell before, so he was better prepared. Before the eyes of Soul's spell could appear, Armor charged at Soul. Soul focused the return attack to a single point, a giant eye opening in front of him, aimed at Armor. Armor could've dodged but he had some guards fighting behind him, he couldn't let them get blasted. As the eye fired the combined return fire of Armor's magic, Armor erected a mobile barrier around himself, blocking the magic.
"A barrier?!" Soul almost chuckled. "Maybe a little more of a push is needed?"
Soul's horn ignited and blasted at the eye, strengthening it's power. Each blast sent another ripple at Armor's shield, pushing him a few inches back. But Armor couldn't stop, he had to defend his men, so with each step back Soul sent him, Armor struggled two steps forward. The closer and closer Armor got, the more blasts Soul sent at him. It wasn't until Armor was only a couple feet away.
"What the Moon are you?!" Soul's blasts were blocked a final time.
"The Canterlot Guard Captain: Shining Armor!!" Armor war cried, charging at a close range to Soul, knocking him hard and square on the head, knocking him out.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Keep going Sister, we are almost there." Luna said, carrying a weakened Celestia with Twilight.
"Is there anywhere we can go Princess?" Dusk asked, following up the rear.
"If what that Bru said was true." Luna responded. "Then the castle is our safest place."
"But your safe places have too many shadows." An eerie and familiar voice sounded from all around them.
Around the ponies, the shadows of the corridor moved around, despite the position of light. Soon the impression of Comet's face formed on one section of wall.
"And there is no place you can hide from me and my shadow." Comet mocked.
"As Princess of the Moon and your Mother Goddess!" Luna stepped forward. "We command thee to cease your action against us!"
As commanding as Luna sounded, Comet appeared unaffected.
"So says the mare who abandoned us a thousand years ago." Comet bitterly snapped. "I follow Master Bru because he has done more for the Children than you have done in centuries. But it doesn't matter now."
"Eeeeaaahhhh!!!" Shouted Midnight from behind.
Everypony looked back and saw Midnight struggling against the shadows under her as they enveloped her.
"Oracle!" Wave tried to grab at Midnight but failed to hold on.
Comet only laughed as she disappeared into the shadows. It wasn't long before Wave tried to get up, but to no avail. Bru's attempt on her life weakened her, and she had difficulty breathing.
"We have to stop Bru." Wave kept falling over herself as she tried to get up. A stream of tears pouring from her eyes. "He's going to kill Midnight. We have to save Midnight!!" But the mare was too weak to move.
"Go after her Dusk." Twilight said turning towards Dusk. "We'll take care of her, but you can get there faster.
"But the Princess?" Dusk protested.
"We shall protect our sister." Luna answered. "But you need to save that filly Midnight before her blessing is taken."
"What is the Oracle's blessing?!" Dusk asked.
"When we left our Children, we gave one of them a fraction of my power." Luna answered. "The blessing gives whoever has it power over the Moon. They receive all power and strength from the Moon; but if the Oracle is a Unicorn, then their magic would be equal to our own."
"But there's a price." Wave finished. ""Every generation has an Oracle, and each Oracle must choose a successor. But when an Oracle passes their Blessing to their successor, the Oracle dies."
"So Bru's gonna force Midnight to give her blessing in order to become the next Oracle." Dusk concluded. "I don;t think I'm enough to stop him, but I'll try."
With that Dusk ran off, as fast as he could gallop.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"It seems I truly overestimated you Dawn Rune." Bru said casually, looking at his enemy.
Rune was practically a smear on the wall. His body was beaten half to death, his blood almost coated the wall, and there were several large dents and indents on the walls and broken columns. The only thing that didn't hurt of feel cracked or broken was his horn. Bru, on the other hand, has calmed down and looked at though not a hair on his mane was out of place.
"It is so sad." Bru commented. "If you were one of the Children, I would've offered a place at my side. My apprentice maybe, but it is too late."
"Y..you...w..won...'t....w..innnn...." Rune was barely able to mutter through a near busted jaw.
"I'm sorry but it's rude to mumble." Bru mocked, walking closer to Rune, holding his ear close.
Rune tried to gather the strength to ignite his horn but barely got a faint glow. Bru saw this and grabbed hold of Rune's horn, slowly starting to bend it the wrong way.
"Maybe I should just break your horn?" Bru almost grinned.
But before Bru could snap Rune's horn, a small blackened shadow appeared in the corner of the room. Out of it came Comet with the captured Midnight.
"I brought the Oracle Master Bru." Comet bowed. "And it seems Soul was right, that colt was no match for you."
"Good work Comet." Bru congratulated, patting his hoof on Comet's head. He then turned his attention to Midnight. "Now Oracle...where were we?"
"Rune!?" Midnight shouted in despair, tears pouring form her eyes at the sight of Rune.
"I've lost all patience." Bru ordered. "Give me the Blessing or he dies NOW!"
"Alright...Alright..." Midnight sniffled. "I'll do it. Just let me go to him."
"Very well." Bru humored her request. "He's going to die soon anywhere."
Comet let go of Midnight and let her run over to Rune.
"Rune, please answer me." Midnight nudged at Rune's side.
"M..mid...nigh..ttt..You're...allive..." Rune groaned as best he could.
"It's okay." Midnight shushed Rune. "It's gonna be okay."
Midnight stood up and lifted her head, her little horn and eyes ignited in an array of various blue, black, and white colors.
"I aM tHe OrAcLe!" Midnight's voice echoed throughout the room and all surrounding rooms. "AnD I aM tO bEsToW mY bLeSsInG!"
"Yes!" Bru's face broke into a triumphant smile. Years of planning and struggles, all was coming together.
"aS oRaClE; i BeStOw AnD wIlL mY bLeSsInG..........." Midnight's body became engulfed in the multicolored aura of magic. The room echoed and shook with such power. "............i BeStOw My BlEsSiNg.........." Then pointed her hoof downwards. "...To DaWn RuNe!!!!!!!!!"
"WHAT!!!???" Bru shouted, his eyes practically went blank with rage. "I will not allow this!" His horn ignited into a massive blue flame as he began blasting whatever magic he could at Midnight.
But it was to no avail; any magic Bru shot at Midnight was easily overwhelmed by Midnight's Oracle aura. More and more magic surrounded Midnight, her body was a shining blue star. The aura then slowly began separating itself from Midnight's body as she made her slow decent down towards the floor. The aura that was leaving Midnight was now wrapping around Rune's body, feeding into his horn. The more magic fed into his horn, his body began to heal, the sounds of cracking and bones popping back into place sounded from his body. The nearby blood on the wall slithered back into Rune's wounds. Bru gave up on his assault, no magic he possessed could stop this. The last part was when a final, icy breath of air left Midnight's mouth and it traveled to Rune, being breathed in.
As the light left Midnight's eyes, and her body became numb, she was happy; now Bru couldn't have the blessing. As her eyes closed, Rune's opened.
Dusk and Rune: The Children of the Night
'What's that noise?' Rune asked himself, his body was too numb and beaten to speak; all he had were his thoughts.
I bEsToW mY bLeSsInG!" A voice Rune recognized echoed around him.
'Midnight?' Rune lacked the strength to open his eyes to confirm his thoughts. 'What are you doing here? Run!"
"tO dAwN rUne!" Midnight's voice shook the room.
Rune could no longer hear any noises. All was silent, and dark. Rune felt as though he was floating in an endless abyss, but something changed. He suddenly felt warm, as if a strong ray of sunlight. His bruises felt relaxed, his blood flowed back into his body, cuts closed, and bones fixed and set back into play. This warmth, this light was healing Rune. When he finally managed to open his eyes, the first thing Rune saw...was Midnight's limp body on the floor.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"What's happening?!" Nightwing asked, rubbing the tears from his eyes. "I can't stop crying!"
"It's the Oracle." Calligraphy answered, tears flowing down her face as well. "She must have given her Blessing."
"To Bru?!" Nightwing snapped.
"No." The Aries seat answered, clear droplets of tars dropped from its cloak hood. "But we must hurry!"
The three picked up their pace and were charging towards the castle at full gallop.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"It happened!" Wave couldn't stop crying either. "Midnight's..."
"What happened?" Twilight asked.
"The Children have always had an Oracle since the beginning." Wave explained. "When the Oracle chooses a successor, they bestow their Blessing. The former Oracle dies, and all the Children share what we call The Bond of Tears. All Children, no matter where they are, are all crying and mourning her."
"You mean that filly-" Twilight tried asking.
"It means Midnight's dead!" Wave's tears kept pouring.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"The Oracle has chosen a successor!" Greene announced before the mourning Children back in the kingdom. His face and beard drenched in tears. "Praise the Oracle! Praise Midnight! Your sacrifice shall be remembered!"
"Praise the Oracle!" The crowd chanted. "Praise Midnight!"
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Damn it!" Bru cursed aloud, tears pouring, he knew what that meant.
His plans, years in the making, countless sacrifices made, all in ruin. Now Midnight was dead and Rune, this outsider, not even one of the Children was the new Oracle. He wasn't going to stand for this.
"I refuse to accept any of this!" Bru stormed over towards Rune, who remained expressionless and stared only at Midnight's body. "Rune! You are going to give me the Blessing! Right now-"
Before he could finish, a large blue arch of magic sliced past him, just barely skimming his body. Behind him, the back wall and a large section of the ceiling looked as though it were cut by a massive blade edge.
"I'm sorry." Rune finally spoke, but his tone was emotionless. "I meant to slice you in half."
Bru wasted no time jumping back from Rune. But the moment Bru's hoof touched the ground, Rune was already in his face.
"I won't miss again." Rune said, swinging his hoof which was now covered in shadows and darkness to form a type of dragon-like claw. The claw grabbed at Bru's head and slammed it down on the stone flow, the impact caused several cracks and a small indent to form.
In response, Bru's rear leg came up and knocked Rune on the side of his face, pushing him away from Bru. Quickly getting to his hooves, Bru lit up his horn, but instead of blasting at Rune, he aimed for the glass ceiling. With a bolt from his horn, Bru shattered the ceiling, several large and small fragments of glass rained over Rune, impaling his body. But despite this, Rune made no noise nor indication that he was hurt or in pain; he wasn't even bleeding. Only more shadows circled and coiled around Rune, enveloping his body and pushing out the glass.
As the shadows consumed him, Rune's body began to change in appearance. His forehooves became more like a lion's paws. His coat became heavier and darker shades of blue. His mane grew longer, reaching down his back, and was like black fire. His tail shed fur and became more serpentine. And finally, two ram-like horns curved on the side of his head. Finally, his eyes burned with a white and orange glow.
"A Lunar?!" Bru commented. "The Oracle's Blessing is strong indeed to give a outsider like you a Lunar. You should feel honored, a Lunar is one of the highest achievements the Children can achieve." Bru looked around and knew he couldn't fight inside. "Let's take this outside."
Darkness wrapped around Bru and his form became that of his Nightmare form. Slowly rising in the air, Bru flew towards the open ceiling, with Rune following after; both not letting the other escape their sight. Comet, still standing this whole time, merely watched as both Bru and Rune disappeared from view.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"What's going on?!" Armor asked, looking around the throne room.
Looking around, Armor saw that every one of the invaders that have attacked suddenly began to cry uncontrollably ever since the castle shook with a large magical pressure. Even those like the pony he defeated and knocked unconscious, was crying.
"It's probably better if you didn't know." Nightwing answered, walking into the room with Calligraphy and the Aries.
"Nightwing?" Armor asked, then quickly readied his horn. "Stay right there!"
"What are you doing dipshit?' Nightwing asked, his tone mildly annoyed.
"How do I know you're not with them?" Armor asked.
"Well yes and no." Nightwing answered. "I am one of them, but I'm trying to stop them. And I'm sure you felt that massive surge of magic."
"You'll forgive that I don't believe-" But before Armor could finish, Nightwing swept his wing, sending a small projectile past Armor's face.
Looking behind his, Armor saw one of the Children that tried to attack him from behind, but it had a feather shaped dagger in its head. The pony fell over dead.
"You're welcome asshole." Nightwing nodded.
"Okay, I believe you." Armor nodded. "But first tell me what's going on."
"Long story short." Nightwing paraphrased, gesturing to Calligraphy and the Aries. "We're part of an ancient kingdom that worships Princess Luna, some of us decided to go to war with you guys and trapped those who wouldn't back in our kingdom. So now some of us escaped and are trying to stop their leader Bru from killing Celestia and becoming a god."
"But it seems you were too late." Armor argued, whatever this Bru was doing, probably happened!"
"Not entirely." The Aries stepped forward. "The Oracle has given her Blessing to another, but it wasn't Bru."
"Then who?" Armor demanded.
"Rune." Calligraphy answered. "It's the only explanation I can think of."
"Rune?!" Armor asked. "Dawn Rune? He's one of you? And he's now some god or something?!"
"Yes and no." Nightwing explained. "As far as I know, Rune isn't one of us, and so he can't control the Blessing."
"If we don't stop him soon." Calligraphy finished the explanation. "Rune will become too overwhelmed by the Blessing's power and die."
"Then we have to stop him." Armor said.
"Not yet you don't!" A voiced pierced the air.
The ponies turned to see Comet, and she wasn't too happy. Her mane was a mess and a murderous glare gleamed in her eyes. Spreading her wings to extend her shadow, pointed tendril shot from the ground at the group. Luckily they were all able to dodge. But Comet soon ignored the other ponies when she saw Calligraphy. Soon Calligraphy became the target of all of Comet's attacks.
"Because you brought him to us!" Comet shouted. "Bru was to be the Oracle, our savior. Now you've killed us all!"
Comet's attacks became faster and faster, more and more tendrils struck at Calligraphy, but because Comet was blinded by her anger, her aim was off. Calligraphy barely had to dodge the attacks as most missed on their own. Calligraphy ignited her horn in a greyish green color; seeing a clear shot through all the tendrils, Calligraphy fired a small blast of magic, striking Comet in the chest. Not enough to kill, just enough to knock her down.
"Okay now we have to stop Rune before he kills himself." Calligraphy said.
"Or use the Oracle's Blessing to destroy all of Canterlot." The Aries added.
"That reminds me." Armor pointed his horn at the still hooded Aries. "Who are you, take off the hood."
The former Aries seat lifted its hood, revealing that it was a mare. A brown coated unicorn mare with a flowing light blue mane.
"Easy there Captain Armor." The mare said. "There's no need to worry about me."
"What's your name?" Armor asked, he could've sworn he's seen this mare before.
"You can call me Rem Sleep." The mare nodded. "I am, or was, a Children of the Night. But almost twenty years ago, I was banished. I've lived in Canterlot ever since in hiding."
"So you're here for revenge?" Armor asked.
"In a manner of speaking." Rem chuckled. "But it seems Rune beat me to my target. So I will let Rune have Bru."
"Aren't you gonna help?" Armor asked.
"There's no need." Rem smiled calmly, but then her eyes and expression became murderous and cold. "But don't misunderstand, if Rune can't beat Bru, I will kill Bru!"
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The sky was erupting with wind. The clashing magics of Rune and Bru collided, sending shock waves small and large rupturing the sky, clearing and slicing the night clouds away. Every time one of them shot a blast of magic, the other would either dodge or knock it away. But Bru was struggling to stay a step ahead of Rune. Normally, Bru should be dominating the battle, but because of Rune receiving the Blessing, Bru was barely able to get a decent hit on Rune. But it wasn't until the last few attacks, that Bru noticed that Rune was easier to dodge than he thought.
"It seems my hunch was correct." Bru commented, looking at the destruction all of Rune's missed attacks have done to the area. "You have all the power the Blessing has given, but you lack control. So I will defeat you, and you will give the Blessing to me. The only redeemable thing is you have gained the power of a Lunar. But let me show you a real Lunar."
The night shadows caressed Bru's body. His fur became more smooth, polished, and hardened. His hooves subtly curved to a point, and his ears retracted to his head until his ears were small holes on the side of his head. The last thing was his tail hair all but fell off and instead, a large scorpion-like stinger was all that remained. Bru stared at Rune, his eyes a burning indigo.
"Now allow me to teach you how to use a Lunar." Bru said, with a kick off the air, he charged head long towards Rune.
Before Rune finished a blink, Bru brought the side of his arm across Rune's neck. The impact knocked Rune against the stone wall hard enough to form an indent and cracks in the stone. Bru, not wasting any time, charged his horn and blasted orbs of blue magic that sparked with greenish sparks at Rune. Rune raised his head and with an ignition of his horn, the orbs dissipated. A claw-like shadow spewed from Rune's lit horn and went at full speed towards Bru.
"Not a second time!" Bru announced, his horn's magic smacking the shadow with an invisible force, redirecting it away from him.
Arching his head upwards, Bru levitated the chunks of nearby rubble. Swinging his horn downwards, the chunks of rubble flew towards Rune. Unlike the last attack, Rune broke free of the stone wall and dodged the attack. With a quick flash of black light, Rune vanished from sight. Quickly reappearing behind Bru, Rune arched his body in a small forward flip, swinging down his rear hoof. Quickly turning around, Bru brought his two forehooves upwards in an crisscross, blocking the kick. Then without so much as a shift of his body, Bru's scorpion-like tail came from his right, ready to sting Rune's side. Rune, in turn, swung down his elbow, knocking the tail under him. Bru then did a small spin and delivered a direct kick to Rune's exposed stomach, the force of the impact knocked him through the air to the ground, crashing into the Canterlot Royal Garden.
"You have no idea how lucky you are Dawn Rune." Bru said, landing to the ground, walking through the garden maze in search of Rune. "In over a day, you have discovered out ancient culture, learned our history, uncovered my plan, years in the making mind you, and now here you are, an outsider with no Children blood in you and you're now the Children's new oracle. You can understand why I can't allow this."
As Bru made his way through the maze in search of Rune, Rune silently moved from one shadow cast by the many marble statues to another. Because he was in the heat of the moment, he didn't notice it, but now that Rune had a moment to think, he realized his pulse was hammering and his heart was beating far too many beats per minute and was beating irregularly.
'I don't have much time.' Rune thought, trying to relax himself. 'I don't think my body can hold onto this much power for too long.' Rune then looked up at the full Moon. 'It's a good thing it's a full Moon, maybe that's what's making this easier to control.'
"Come out Dawn Rune!" Bru called. "I'm growing tired of this game."
"Maybe we should play a new game!" Rune announced, jumping into the air, over the hedge wall. Igniting his horn, Rune lifted several of the marble statues that filled the maze and garden. "Let's make it rain!"
Swinging his horn down, Rune's magic shattered the marble statues into hoofful size chunks. As they flew downwards at Bru, they burst into a black flame.
"Black fire?!" Bru noticed with surprise, jumping back and around, whatever he could to dodge.
Jumping behind several high hedge walls, Bru hid himself from Rune's line of sight.
"Interesting." Bru's voice echoed, making it difficult to pin point. "You're the second pony I've met to use black flames. But it doesn't matter, from what I can guess, you can't control the Blessing, nor can your body hold on to it. Did you really think you can control the power of the Blessing right off the bat?! Foolish child. An Oracle spends years mentally and magically preparing their body for the Blessing. A whelp such as yourself could never hold it in."
Bru was right, Rune felt as if his body was gonna drop any moment, he had to endure it a little longer.
"Then I'm thankful I'm so stubborn." Rune said, finding where Bru was and charging at him.
Kicking off the ground and in a forward spin, Rune arched his horn and made a crescent shaped arch of magic that cut forward. Bru leaped out of the hedge wall and did a similar attack. Both arches collided and dissipated.
"As much as I would love to wait and see your body burn out." Bru bragged. "I cannot let you die just yet, you will give me the Blessing."
Bru pointed his horn and let loose a blast of a dark blue liquid-like blast at Rune. The attack washed over him and followed with an isolated explosion, starting from Bru and ran past Rune. The blast knocked Rune back against a nearby statue. Surprisingly, the statue, which looked like some female creature made up of an assortment of other creatures, neither chipped nor cracked.
"That'll do!" Rune said aloud, quickly grabbing the statue with his paws, yanking it from the ground.
Jumping back at Bru, Rune raised the statue in paw and swung hard against Bru. The impact of the large statue made a loud cracking noise. Not of the statue, but of Bru's body. The force of impact knocked Bru through the hedge wall and hard against the side of the castle walls. Despite the sudden crack of what could be assumed to be Bru's ribs, he got up quickly. Looking around, Bru couldn't find Rune around.
"Where did he-" Bru asked but the felt a large amount of magic above him.
Looking up, Bru saw Rune with a large amount of energy charging in his horn.
"One last blaze of glory?" Bru asked himself. "Foolish child!"
Bru blasted all he could into this attack. Both Bru and Rune were aware that this would be the final attack. The two's magic collided with a flash of grey, blue, black, and orange colors and pulses of magical energy. The force of the magic was pushing Bru into the ground and pushing Rune farther back. But in this mass of magic, both Rune and Bru felt something, something familiar. Within the blast and waves, their horns let out faint sparks. Images began flashing into their heads, though neither ponies could understand it, the images seemed familiar, yet odd. As if they forgot something but couldn't remember it.
"What is this?!" Rune asked aloud.
"These images?" Bru asked himself, thinking about them but focusing more on his attack. "I swear I've seen them before. But where?"
Bru also noticed another thing, he was being forced back, he was losing. He couldn't understand it.
'How?!' Bru shouted in his head. 'How could I lose to this, this outsider!? This nopony who stole my power from me!' But then a final image flashed through his mind. A unicorn pony with a long flowing mane and almost fiery eyes. 'No! It's not possible! They're both dead.'
Rune let out one last impact of magic, everything he could into a final push. And it worked. Bru found himself overwhelmed by the attack, his magic lost, and he was blasted into a large crater. But having used up all he could, Rune couldn't keep himself in the air. Despite trying to gently lower himself, Rune dropped with thud, only several feet from Bru.
"It's impossible." Bru weakly said aloud. "How could I have lost?"
Turning his head, Bru saw something even he didn't expect. Rune, too weak to get up, was using what little strength he had left to drag himself over to Bru.
"Who?" Rune weakly asked. "What are these images I'm seeing? Who is that unicorn with the fiery eyes?! What is all of this?!"
"It seems I was wrong about you." Bru asked. "You are not who I thought you were...I had hoped, but doesn't matter...Dawn Rune, I hate you. You single hoofed the destruction of my kind and we are now going to rot in some cell or be subject to genocide by the Sun Tyrant. All those lives I was going to save, all wasted."
"No!" Rune could barely shout, he was still crawling. "You gave up on you're kind when you chose your pride over what was right."
"Master Bru!" Comet and Soul's voice sounded, coming closer.
Between Bru and Rune was a beaten and bruised Comet and Soul.
"Master Bru." Come grabbed hold of Bru in her hooves. "We have to go, I will not let you face a cell to rot in."
"What about him Master Bru?" Soul asked. "Should I kill him?"
"There's no point." Bru ordered. "Out of a courtesy, I will allow the child to live. Only I am allowed to kill him. He is the only pony to have bested me...Well, second......Comet, get us out of here."
"Yes." Comet nodded, spreading her wings to cast a large shadow over the three. As the shadows spread, Bru, Comet, and Soul sank into the shadows until they were gone.
Rune's body was feeling numb, his eyes were feeling heavy and breathing became difficult. The sound around him were becoming faint and he was drifting away. Before his sight left him, he saw a pony, he couldn't tell the color or even gender, but he saw a unicorn's horn and a flowing mane.
Though he couldn't distinguish the voice, he heard, "Do you want to save Midnight?"
Rune could only nod.
"Then will the Blessing into her." The voice said. "The color has not left her face, she can still be saved."
A thin stream of tears began to pour down Rune's face. He could save Midnight.
"I...Bestow...my Blessing...to...Mid..night..." Rune said weakly.
Dusk and Rune: The Children of the Night
And it was over.
"Will he ever wake up?" A familiar mare's voice asked.
"He should but he may need more rest." Another voice answered. "He's lucky he didn't have the Blessing for too long. He would have died otherwise."
'I..hear noises.." Rune could only say in his mind. 'What..happened..?'
"Have you can contacted Sweet Dreams. His mother should be one of the first he sees when he wakes."
"Yes, well Calligraphy and Dusk are calming her down right now." A male voice answered. "I swear a few guards soiled themselves from that mare's shouting."
Then suddenly, Rune's body let out a few twitches. His mouth made a faint groan and his eyes slowly started opening.
"He's waking up!" A filly's voice called out in joy.
"Hurry! Get his mother and Dusk!" The stallion's voice ordered what could be assumed to be guards.
When Rune's eyes opened, he found he was in a large bed. It looked different from a hospital bed but it definitely wasn't a casual bed. The bed was large, oval shaped, fluffy and dark blue. He was in Luna's bed. To the side of the bed was Midnight. Her mouth was in a joyous smile and she was crying.
"Midnight?!" Rune could barely mumble.
"Rune." Midnight said jumping at Rune in a hug.
"It seems you've awoken." Princess Luna stated, walking into the room.
"Luna." Rune said as Luna approached him.
Before Luna could say anything, the door almost swung open violently.
"Where is he!" Sweet Dreams shouted, storming into the room. In a swift motion, Dreams knocked Rune on the head so hard, it almost cracked his head. "WHAT THE BLOODY BUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU!? First you break in Calligraphy's house, learn some dark secret about her, sneak into some underground kingdom, cause a fuss, possibly start a war, then fly in on a giant black owl and kick the shit out of the pony who was attacking us by using some suicidal magic!!" Just before she was about to smack Rune upside the head again, Rune felt the embrace of his mother's hug. Rune could feel warm tears touching his face. "Stupid stupid child. Promise me you'll never do something so foolish again."
"Rune?!" Dusk then stated, coming into the room. Followed by Calligraphy and Nightwing.
"It's good to see you're awake Rune." Calligraphy smiled.
"Lucky bastard is what you are." Nightwing nodded.
"How am I still alive?" Rune asked, then looked at Midnight, who was still hugging his side.
"Do you remember anything?" Calligraphy asked.
"I remember beating Bru." Rune explained. "Then I fell- Wait! what happen to Bru, to Celestia, what happened?! How long have I-"
"One thing at a time." Nightwing interjected. "Sad news is Bru escaped along with Comet and Soul. Wave is currently in the dungeon until we decide what to do with her."
"That is of course after Celestia." Calligraphy added. "Who is recovering peacefully, decides what will happen to the Children."
"What about that mare?!" Rune added. "Before passing out, I saw a mare over me. She told me that I could bestow the Blessing to Midnight to save her."
"Well clearly it worked." Nightwing answered. "Did you see what the mare looked like?"
"I only remember her being a unicorn and she had a flowing mane." Rune answered.
"It must have been that mare you were with when you arrived." Shining Armor answered walking in the room. "What was her name...Rem Sleep."
"It's possible." Calligraphy answered. "Rem did leave before we found Rune. But she vanished just as quickly."
"But for now." Armor sighed. "They've arrived and are being lead to the throne room. And they are under strict watch."
"I understand." Nightwing sighed in annoyance but accepted it. "Calligraphy, let's go."
"What's going on?" Rune asked, but Calligraphy, Nightwing, and Armor had already left.
"You've been asleep for a few days." Dusk answered. "After you defeated Bru, Calligraphy sent word to the Children's castle. Right now, all the members of the Children's Council are meeting with Celestia to discuss terms."
"But the other Children shouldn't suffer for what Bru did right?" Rune protested to Luna. "We need to so something."
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In the royal throne room, Celestia, with several bandages, sat on her throne. Before her were the remaining members of the Children's Council. All were cloaked, with their hoods down. Surrounding them and lining the walls of the room were possibly more guards than were necessary, all with one weapon or another fixed on the council members.
"I brought them your highness." Armor stated, walking into the room with Calligraphy and Nightwing.
"Very good. Now we can begin." Celestia stated. "I would first wish to know your names."
"We are the Children of the Night." Greene stepped forward a bit. "We are the forgotten fillies and colts saved by Princess Luna over a thousand years ago."
"So you lead them?" Celestia asked.
"Only until Princess Luna would come for us." Greene answered. "But now it does not matter now. But to answer the first question, I am Greene, the Leo seat of the Council."
"Mariana, the Aquarius seat." An aqua colored unicorn mare with a darker blue mane answered.
"Fault Line, the Taurus seat." A brown earth mare, with a small twin purple Mohawks answered.
"Pulse Wave, the Cancer seat." Wave answered.
"Nightingale, the Virgo seat." A dark gray pegasus mare, with short dreadlocks answered.
"Honey Pot, the Capricorn seat." A golden earth mare, with a golden ribbon over her short mane answered.
"Waltz, the Pisces seat." A whitish tan unicorn mare with her mane covering one of her eyes answered.
"Calligraphy, the Libra seat." Calligraphy answered.
"Nightwing, the Gemini seat." Nightwing answered.
"Only eight of you?" Celestia politely asked. "And who were the other three who attacked?"
"They were Bru Tality, the now former Scorpio seat, Comet the now former Ophiuchus seat, and Burning Soul the now former Sagittarius seat." Greene answered.
"What about that Aries seat of yours." Armors asked. "What was her name? Rem Sleep?"
"She was banished and is no long considered one of the Children." Greene said very sternly.
"Now what is it you want?" Celestia asked.
"We want to return." Greene answered. "We have waited over a thousand years for Princess Luna to return and lead us. For that we have remained hidden for centuries. And now all of it may be for nothing."
"And why is that?" Celestia asked.
"Because of Bru's actions." Greene answered, looking around the room, the angry look in all the guards' eyes. "It would appear that we are not wanted and we are to be hated. The Council has agreed to submit ourselves and the Children to whatever punishment you are to give us."
"We disagree!" Princess Luna announced, storming into the room with Rune, Dusk, and Midnight.
The Children bowed their heads a low as they could towards Luna.
"P-princess Luna." Greene stated. "But we have lost and to the victor goes the spoils."
"But you have not lost." Rune answered, then looked at Princess Celestia. "Princess, I would like to ask that you spare the Children. They had nothing to do with Bru's attack. All those involved were either killed or have fled."
"What are you talking about?" Celestia asked. "I'm not going to punish them at all."
"WHAT?!" The whole room stated loudly at once.
"Sister, if you would." Celestia turned the attention to Princess Luna as she was stepping to the front.
Spreading her wings wide open, Luna made her presence very intimidating, and very dignified. "We, Princess of the Night, have deemed the fate of our long forgotten children." Turning her head towards Rune. "Dawn Rune, as we recall, you learned a form of teleportation array under our tutelage correct?"
"Yes." Then Rune realized what she meant and his eyes lit up. "Yes I remember!"
"You are to create an array connecting Canterlot with the Children's castle." Luna ordered. "The fate of the Children is to join Equestria. Not as slaves, or prisoners, but as equals."
"Y-you mean?" Greene couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"We offer our deepest apology to our lost Children for our abandonment." Luna bowed her head. "The Night's Castle and Canterlot are to join as equals. I want to be with my Children again. Welcome home."
There were tears. every member of the council, and even Midnight couldn't stop crying. All that they have hoped for, all the centuries in some forms of isolation and even in dark corners was finally over. They could return to their Goddess, their mother, their Princess Luna.
"Praise Luna!" Greene called out, as the others followed in the chant.
Celestia then stepped forward and reached out her hoof to Luna. "And I want to make it official. That the Equestrian kingdom of Canterlot joins Luna's Children of the Night in a unity of friendship."
"We agree and want to live together in harmony." Luna nodded and shook hooves with Celestia.
"Praise Luna, Praise Celestia!" Greene and the others, and even the guards started chanting.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"So you're gonna stay up here then?" Dusk asked.
"Yeah." Rune answered, now back in bed. "Luna needs me to design and make that array. Also Calligraphy wants to keep a close eye on me. Apparently the Blessing took more out of me than I thought, so I'm to be observed for a while. Should only be for a couple months."
"I understand." Dusk said, then pointed at a sleeping Midnight, who was curled up against Rune. "And what about her?"
"I don't know." Rune responded. "I gave her back the Blessing, but according to Calligraphy, it only restored her life. She doesn't have the Blessing's power anymore, and neither do I. So after I recover and set up that array, I'll keep my promise and show Midnight around Ponyville."
"Or you could do something else." Calligraphy walked in.
"Calligraphy?!" Rune exclaimed. "What do you mean?"
"Well Oracles never know their parents." Calligraphy suggested. "And I've been talking it over with Dreams, since you're dating that zebra in Ponyville. Maybe you should adopt Midnight, take her with you."
"You trust me to be a parent?!" Rune asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Isn't that a bit extreme?" Dusk asked.
"Well in all honesty it was Dreams' idea." Calligraphy said. "I personally trust that his marefriend is more responsible."
"I see." Rune smiled a bit. "I think Zecora might like the idea. She did talk to be about the idea of having kids last Nightmare Night."
"Then it's settled." Calligraphy nodded. "But Dusk, I do have to ask you to leave. Rune needs his rest and I already have some guards ready to take you back to Ponyville."
"Okay." Dusk nodded. "I'll visit you sometime Rune."
"You should also get some rest." Calligraphy suggested to Rune.
Rune couldn't complain, his body was too exhausted to and he was soon out like a light. Calligraphy turned off the light left the room, closing the door behind her. Walking down the corridor, Calligraphy walked out to a nearby balcony that overlooked all of Canterlot.
"And to think it was almost lost." Calligraphy told herself. "But now we are free of our centuries of burdens. Let's only hope it can truly last."
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The quick flight via guard chariot took less time than Dusk noticed and before long, he was back home in Ponyville. After the last few days, he felt he deserved some rest. Luckily he sent several letters to Spike to tell the girls not to worry about him and that investigation would take days, if not weeks. When Dusk finally arrived at the Library, he was greeted not only by Spike and Trixie, but by the eager ears, eyes, and mouths of the other girls.
"Glad to have you home dear." Rarity said.
"But what took you so long?" Rainbow Dash impatiently asked.
"Well." Dusk took a deep breath and let out a sigh. "It's a long story."
Dusk and Rune: The Children of the Night
The Children of the Night
The Moon was faint this dark night, too many clouds hid the light. The streets of Canterlot were faintly illuminated with street lights. There was nopony on the streets, even the mice were absent. Rushing along the rooftops of the city, a cloaked figure leaped from one roof to the other, making no noise as it made its way to the castle. The guards did their patrol as normal, unaware of the incoming intruder. As if the darkness coated and hid the figure, the mystery intruder made it to the courtyard, moving silently and unseen. Darting from one dark corner to the next, the figure infiltrated the castle.
Darting through the halls, the figure remained unnoticed. It travel swift and silent through the shadows; no guard detected or felt anything. It was searching; this figure moved from room to room, seeking something. It wasn't too long until it found it's prize. A large wooden door, with large golden suns and stars embroidering it. The cloaked figure revealed a horn and opened the door. Quietly, the figure sneaked its way into the chambers and spied its prey; the defenseless, sleeping Princess Celestia.
Reaching under its cloak, the figure pulled a small, curved black dagger. Gripping it tight;y in its teeth, the figure charged at Celestia. Again and again, the figure stabbed and slashed at Celestia, feathers and pieces of pillows went everywhere. The assassin illuminated its horn to see its killed prey. To the assassin's shock, Princess Celestia wasn't there, only several lage pillows with deep gashes were in the bed.
"Got ya!" Shouted Nightwing, as he stood at the doorway. "No where to go piss ant."
The failed assassin looked back and ran, but with no where to go, jumped off the balcony. Nightwing didn't hesitate and ran after, being a pegasus, the assassin was easily caught. The assassin started to struggle in Nightwing's hooves.
"Hold still ya moron." Nightwing said. "If you keep struggling-"
But it was too late, the figure fell, the sound of a loud crash and bang on the stone courtyard ground. Nightwing landed nearby as several night guards came. Nightwing looked at the pony, with a grip of the teeth, he removed the cloak. The assassin was a unicorn but there was definitely something wrong. It had no cutie mark, no mane or tail, and its coat was a hardened, black exterior.
"What is that?" A guard asked.
Suddenly, the pony opened it's blank white eyes and looked at Nightwing, it was too weak to move.
"Tell me who you are and why you tried to kill Princess Celestia." Nightwing interrogated.
"The.Night.Will.Come." The pony's monotone voice was void of all emotion.
Nightwing wanted to ask more questions, but the black unicorn was enveloped in shadows and faded away to nothing. The only thing remaining was the cloak and the strange dagger.
"What was that?" Another guard asked. "Captain?"
"Wake the Princess and summon Princess Luna." Nightwing order.
The guards scrambled about to gather the two Princesses. Nightwing remained, staring at where the assassin was before and gazed at the dagger.
"The night will come." Nightwing mumbled to himself. Looking up at where the Moon would be behind the clouds. "Is it time?"
The royal throne room was filled with guards, both day and night guards were at every entrance and lined every wall. Both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna sat upon their thrones. Night Captain Nightwing stood besides Day Captain Shining Armor.
"Captain Nightwing." Princess Luna asked. "We have been informed you have an answer why our sister was almost assassinated. Is this correct?"
"Yes your highness." Nightwing stepped forward, looking around the room and maintaining a very serious composure. "As most of the guards were not informed, we received an anonymous letter stating that there was a plot to kill Princess Celestia." He then presented the strange dagger. "The assailant was armed only with this."
"But what about the assassin?" Princess Celestia asked.
"A unicorn as I could tell." Nightwing answered with a regrettable sigh. "Unfortunately, the unicorn in no longer here."
"Explain if you would." Luna requested.
"After a quick look over, the unicorn had no cutie mark, mane or tail." Nightwing explained. "Its gender was unidentifiable, it's eyes were white and the coat was a hard, black exterior. But the strangest this was its last words: 'The night will come.'."
"The night will come?" Celestia asked in confusion. "Luna, do you know-"
Celestia didn't need to finish, Luna had a look in her eye that said everything. It didn't look like Luna knew the answer but something was causing her great concern.
"At any rate." Celestia added. "You are to find out the origins of this dagger and anything about this message."
The meeting was adjourned and everypony went back to bed. Aside from practically the guards, the rest of night went fine, but Luna couldn't get those words out of her head.
"They can't be." Luna mumbled to herself.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Back at an unidentifiable place, a group of several ponies met, their bodies were heavily cloaked and their muzzles hidden in shadow.
"It seems your plans have failed us." One pony, definitely a mare's voice.
"No, my plan went perfectly." A stallion's voice responded. "Now they know of us and the fear shall break Celestia."
"As long as only Celestia is targeted." Another stallion, almost sounded like an elderly pony's voice.
"Agreed." The stallion and mare nodded with the rest.
"But the gathering has been called." The mare said. "You know what this means."
"Yes, all the children shall return." The stallion answered. "Maybe our time has come. But enough of that, we have preparations to make."
The group of ponies then placed the hooves upon their chest. "May the Goddess bless our actions...Amen."
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
"I wonder what the Princesses want?" Rune asked aloud to Dusk as they exited the Canterlot train station.
"I don't know but we better hurry." Dusk said, as the two galloped as fast as they could.
"We would of been here faster if we used my teleportation array." Rune joked.
"I don't even trust you to open a cookie jar, let alone a teleportation link." Dusk answered.
It wasn't long before Dusk and Rune reached the castle and boy were there a lot of guards.
"I'm going on a limb here." Rune joked. "But I'm assuming something happened."
"It's about time you shit heads made it." Nightwing said, approaching Dusk and Rune, while accompanied by Shining Armor.
"Hello to you too Nightwing." Rune replied. "So what did we miss?"
"Come with us." Armor gestured. "There was an assassination attempt on Princess Celestia last night."
"Is the Princess okay?!" Dusk was borderline panic.
"She's fine." Nightwing answered. "We received an anonymous letter warning us of the attack. So the assassination attempt was prevented."
"So why ask us to come?" Rune asked.
"Well..you see..." Armor had to think his explanation through. "Since the assassin well vanished, the attempted murder weapon was recovered and we want you two to look it over."
"Vanished?" Both Dusk and Rune asked.
"Here's the simpler explanation." Nightwing explained. "Dusk, you're Princess Celestia's protege, so she trusts your opinion and help. But you Rune..." Nightwing took a firm grip of Rune's head and pushed down hard, as if trying to crush it. "The only reason your sorry ass was allowed here was for two reasons. The first is Princess Luna gave you the Arch-Mage title, so you have her trust in all matters. Second, despite everything else that's wrong about you, you have a good memory and take interest in stupid and random facts. We're hoping one of those facts is useful."
Rune was going to respond, but Armor intervened. "Let us end that little discussion before it goes the wrong way. Come with us."
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
"Are you going to tell me?" Celestia asked Luna in Luna's chambers.
"Tell you what?" Luna played innocent.
"You know more about this than you're letting on." Celestia asked. "You know I don't like to force myself into your personal affairs but I could've died. So if you know anything-"
"We cannot." Luna said, her eyes mirrored her sorrow. "Anything we would know died almost a thousand years ago."
"I understand." Celestia knew that Luna had nothing to do with it but she knew something.
"Your highnesses." A day guard came into the room. "Dusk Shine and Dawn Rune have arrived."
"Good work." Celestia smiled. "We will greet them shortly."
"Yes." The guard bowed and was off.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
"So what are we looking at here?" Rune stupidly asked, looking at the dagger.
"This was the weapon in question." Armor explained.
"That must really hurt your pride." Rune joked, looking at Nightwing. "Letting some would be assassin get so far in and then get away."
Nightwing, in a swift motion, grabbed Rune by the head and smacked it down to the ground. "Two things moron. One, I didn't let the assassin get away, it evaporated into shadows, and two, just because you have a title, doesn't mean I can't still smack a bitch like you."
"I see." Rune answered, just not responded to the slammed his head down. "So what can you tell us about this weapon?"
"We were hoping you two could assist with that." Princess Celestia answered, walking in the room with Princess Luna.
"Princess?!" Dusk and Rune gave a polite bow.
"What makes you think we can help?" Rune asked.
"We trust you would have some knowledge regarding this." Luna answered. "We assumed you would find such subject interesting enough to know something."
"Well." Rune looked the dagger over. He stared and stared at it for a long while. "Well..."
"Well......???" The other ponies asked.
Rune raised his hoof and rubbed the back of his head. "I got nothing. Tee Hee."
Everypony in the room practically facehoofed themselves.
"What was with that stupidly long pause?! Or that 'tee hee' in the end?!" Nightwing shouted, shaking Rune back and forth violently.
"In his defense." Dusk reluctantly stated. "I have never seen this type of weapon before."
"I'm sure you'll figure it out." Armor said warmly to his younger brother.
"I call unfair treatment!" Rune demanded at Armor, then felt the force of Luna's hoof smacking him to the floor.
"We called you here to help, not act as a fool." Luna stated.
"That might be too hard for him." Nightwing responded with a faint chuckle.
"I may not know about the dagger." Rune smiled with some confidence. "But I know a pony who might." Rune then grabbed the dagger in his teeth and ran off. "I'm gonna borrow this."
"Rune?!" Dusk shouted, bowing to everypony and chasing after Rune. "Slow down!"
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
In Canterlot, an out of the way small building, in the back of an unused but relatively cleaned alley way, a unseen pony lets out a sneeze.
Closing the book this pony was reading, looking out the nearby window, the pony sighed. "I have a bad feeling that I'm gonna see a bad customer."
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
"We're here." Rune smiled at Dusk.
Dusk chased after Rune, not knowing where he was going. But at the end, Dusk found himself besides Rune and staring at a building, that resided in a clean but empty alley way.
"So where are we?" Dusk asked.
"A book shop I know." Rune answered.
"You actually go to book stores?" Dusk was a tad surprised at Rune.
"Well I've known the owner since I was a colt. She's a close friend to Mum. She's like a big sister I never had." Rune answered. "She should help...or stab me.."
"Wait, why stab you?" Dusk asked, but wasn't too surprise to hear that a pony wanted to hurt Rune.
"I may or may not of upset her before. I don't remember." Rune laughed a bit, opening the door.
The interior was definitely larger than the exterior, with all the shelves and books around, it looked more like a library than a store. Looking around as the two walked in, Dusk noticed there wasn't a soul to be seen and even scarier was when Dusk looked at wall at the front desk. Hanging up on the wall was a massive sword that looked more like a giant cleaver than anything. So Dusk definitely wasn't feeling the safest. Maybe this wasn't a good-
"Calligraphy?!" Rune called in the large, empty store. "Where are you! It's me, Rune!"
"Maybe this pony isn't-" Dusk was interrupted when a smaller kitchen knife flew by, just skimming his nose and imbedding in the front desk. "WWWAAAAHHHH!!!!!???"
"Oh yeah she's here." Rune, once again was unaffected by what should be terrifying.
"You know stores are meant to be quiet and peaceful Dawn Rune." A unicorn mare walked out of the corridor, letting out a deep sigh as if she was experiencing the worst of headaches.
"Hello Calligraphy." Rune greeted with a smile, as if seeing an old friend.
Dusk, after worrying for his life, looked the mare over. She was light blue in color with a well maintained white mane and tail. Her cutie mark appeared to be an atom under a microscope. Her dark blue magical aura was busy floating several large stacks of books.
"What do you want Rune?" Calligraphy asked, staring down rune with her piercing black eyes.
"We need your help identifying this." Rune levitated the dagger, passing it to Calligraphy.
Her eyes lit up as she looked the weapon over. "Where did you get this?"
"Somepony tried to kill Celestia with it." Dusk answered.
"What?!" Calligraphy was surprised and shocked to hear that. "I hope the Princess is alright."
"She wasn't harmed." Dusk said. "The guards received a warning before the attack."
"I see." Calligraphy was already going through the books, looking for answers, but let out a sigh of relief. "Here we go." Calligraphy brought an old looking book with no title. Turning through the pages, Calligraphy brought up the page she was looking for. "Here we go; "The Children of the Night."."
"The Children of the Night?" Dusk and Rune asked.
"They're not very well known." Calligraphy began her lecture. "There was a time a thouand years ago, where a group of ponies worshiped Princess Luna above Princess Celestia."
"Really?" Rune interrupted. "I borderline stalk Luna and her history and never heard of that."
Rune felt the smack of a rolled up sheet of paper smack him hard on the head.
"Don't interrupt." Calligraphy continued. "This group quickly faded from history when Nightmare Moon came and Luna's banishment occurred. All that is left is this sign, they crest." Calligraphy pointed at an insignia on the page. It was a crescent moon tuned on its side with a star above it. "Look at this." Calligraphy lifted the dagger and pointed out the same insignia was on the dagger. "You know what this means?"
"That these Children of the Night are real?!" Rune was a bit too excited about this.
"Of course not." Calligraphy let out a playful laugh. "This is obviously some group that not only hates Celestia but whats to play pretend."
There was then a knock on the door. Nopony walked in, nor was the door opened. Only a sealed letter was put through the mail slot. Calligraphy walked over and opened the letter. Her eyes became widened with surprise and slight fear.
"Well that's enough for today!" She said, practically throwing Dusk and Rune out. "I do need to get back to work so come by another time!"
Before either stallions could say anything, they were back in the alley.
"I wonder what that was about." Dusk asked.
"No clue." Rune said, holding the book with the Children of the Night section. "But we have a clue."
In the book store, Calligraphy looked over the letter again and again and again, until she couldn't stand to look at it and set it a blaze with her horn. "It's too soon."
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
"I don't think this is a good idea." Dusk warned Rune as they walked the night streets.
After being forced out of Calligraphy's chop, Rune couldn't stop thinking that he forgot something important. After a long debate that took hours of convincing, Rune was able to help convince Dusk to sneak in Calligraphy's shop.
"You've been saying that for the last ten minutes." Rune laughed a bit, using magic to pick the store's lock.
Both ponies crept into the dark store. Their entry went unnoticed.
"So what are we looking for?" Dusk asked, wanting to leave.
"I know I saw that insignia before in here." Rune said. "I don't remember where."
"And what do you think you are doing Dawn Rune?" The ponies heard behind them, only a few feet in the store.
Both ponies turned around slowly to see the angry eye of Calligraphy, levitating the massive cleaver blade.
"You have to the count of now to explain." Calligraphy demanded.
"I remember now!" Rune said, guess the instant fear jogged his memory. "I have a question for you."
"You broke into my shop, my home to ask what is probably a stupid question?!" Calligraphy raised the cleaver.
"You've had this cleaver for as long as I've known you right?" Rune asked.
"Yes, what's your point?" Calligraphy asked.
"And you once told me you've had it all your life right?" Rune asked.
"So?" Calligraphy was about to swing down, or at least threaten to.
"Then why is The Children of the Night's insignia on your cleaver?" Rune asked.
Calligraphy's eyes blew open becoming the size of plate with shock. She lowered the weapon and looked at the part where the blade met the handle and there it was. Though faint and scratched, the insignia of a turned over crescent moon with a star over it was there.
"So the Children of the Night still exist don't they." Rune declared like a lawyer winning a case. "You. Are. A. Children. Of. The. Night!"
Calligraphy dropped the cleaver, the blade stuck to the wooden floor. She didn't know what to say, where to start.
"What do you want?" Calligraphy gave up.
"Huh?" Rune was enjoying his success.
"What do I have to give you to make you never speak of this to anypony?" Calligraphy offered.
"I want to know everything." Rune answered. "I want to know everything about the Children of the Night."
Calligraphy didn't answer, but her head was screaming with stress and mixed emotions.
"Please forgive me." She whispered too quietly for the others to here. "Very well. I will tell you everything."
Calligraphy started walking further into the store, gesturing the others to follow.
"Where are we going?" Dusk asked, not really sure why.
"Well as you may of guessed." Calligraphy admitted. "That letter was a message to all the Children. The call has been made, all Children must return."
"Return where?" Dusk asked.
"Home." Calligraphy said, lighting her horn and a section of the floor separated, revealing a stone stair case.
"Okay, that is cool." Rune said.
The three ponies walked down the stairs, the dark, stone corridors were lit by the light of Calligraphy's horn. After a few minutes of walking in the tunnel, the trio reached a boat, a canal boat that rest on the edge of a small stream as if they were at an underground river.
"We're sailing to this place?" Dusk asked.
"It's tradition." Calligraphy answered. "I cannot give all the answers, but once we are there, then we can talk. But for now, get in the boat."
Dusk and Rune got into the boat and Calligraphy sat at the back, the light on her horn shoot out at ignited the lantern that hung at the front of the boat. As if on cue, the boat began to move. The water was calm, there was no breeze. But the boat moved at a steady pace.
"Here it comes." Calligraphy spoke up, her horn lit a darker blue, almost black color. Her black eyes began to glow the same shade of blue. Her words soon became song.
"Come, little children, I'll take thee away
Into a land of enchantment
Come, little children, the time's come to play
Here in my garden of shadows."
"What are you singing?" Rune asked.
"The song of our Mother, who gave us salvation." Calligraphy answered as she continued her song.
"Follow, sweet children, I'll show thee the way
Through all the pain and the sorrows
Weep not, poor children, for life is this way
Murdering beauty and passions."
"Rune, look." Dusk said, noticing that the river was widening, almost become a large lake, or even a small sea.
"What happened?" Rune asked.
"We are almost there." Calligraphy answered. "Some of the other Children have come."
Dusk and Rune looked around to see other boats similar to theirs. As if compelled to, Dusk and Rune could hear the other boats singing the same song as Calligraphy.
"Hush now, dear children, it must be this way
Too weary of life and deceptions
Rest now, my children, for soon we'll away
Into the calm and the quiet."
Dusk and Rune then saw it. A massive castle, surrounded by a small village. The castle almost looked like Canterlot castle but there was no icons of the Sun. Instead, there were the insignias.. Looking around, they could see an open sky, it was clear and twinkling with stars and a massive full Moon. But there was something wrong with this Moon, it didn't have the commandment rune carved on it or any indication of it. Looking back, neither Rune nor Dusk could see where they came from.
"Almost." Calligraphy said, not only her voice, but the voices of countless ponies on countless boats joined in their song.
"Come, little children, I'll take thee away
Into a land of enchantment
Come, little children, the time's come to play
Here in my garden of shadows."
As the song ended, Dusk, Rune and Calligraphy's boat landed and they stepped onto the stone harbor. Looking around, Rune almost felt a strange sense of wonder. Only hours ago, he was told these Children of the Night did not exist, but now he was standing in a small city devoted to the Children.
"Come." Calligraphy said, throwing a cloak on herself and Dusk and Rune. "We must head to the castle."
"Why?" Rune asked.
"If the situation is what I'm afraid of." Calligraphy explained quickly. "Then Princess Celestia won't be the only life at stake."
